MV Britannic Overview and Features

The MV Britannic was a British-registered cruise ship that was part of the White Star Line fleet. It was launched in 1929 and was the largest ship in the world at the time.

The Britannic was a sister ship to the Olympic and the Titanic, and it had a gross tonnage of 83,673 tons. It was 882 feet 9 inches long and had a beam of 92 feet 6 inches.

The ship had a top speed of 21 knots and a service speed of 19 knots. It was designed to carry over 3,300 passengers and crew members.

The MV Britannic was known for its luxurious amenities and accommodations, which included a swimming pool, a gym, and a dog kennel.

Additional reading: How Did the Rms Britannic Sink

The mv Britannic was a ship ahead of its time, designed to be smaller and slower than its predecessors but more luxurious. It was constructed by Harland and Wolff and its keel was laid on 14 April 1927 in Belfast.

The ship was launched on 6 August 1929 with the second-largest ship's engine in the world after MS Augustus. Britannic was designed to be more fuel-efficient and cheaper to operate, which made it an ideal vessel for the economic situation at the time.

Britannic was initially intended to be part of a new quartet of ocean liners, but it ended up being the only one completed. The ship's diesel propulsion method was chosen over traditional steam engines due to its lower fuel requirements and operating costs.

The early years of Britannic's service were marked by a significant change in the shipping industry due to the Great Depression. Many ships, including some from the White Star line, had to offer cheap cruises to stay afloat.

Britannic's delivery to Liverpool in 1930 was met with great enthusiasm by the press and the public. The ship's maiden voyage to New York City via Glasgow and Belfast was a major event, with 14,000 people gathering to watch it depart.

Britannic proved to be a profitable ship, carrying passengers between the UK and the US during the summer of 1930. She was joined by a twin, MV Georgic, in 1932, and both ships operated on the same route.

In 1933, Britannic achieved a remarkable feat by carrying 1,103 passengers, the highest number of passengers of any ship that year. She accomplished this at a speed of 19.5 knots, which was above her intended speed.

The Cunard Line has a rich history, and it's fascinating to learn about the design and evolution of their ships. In 1934, Cunard merged with the White Star Line to form the Cunard White Star Line, with Cunard holding a majority share.

This merger led to the scrapping of most White Star Line ships, with only Britannic, Georgic, and Laurentic remaining in service. The SS Laurentic was retained until it sank in 1940.

Britannic and Georgic were assigned to the London to New York route, making them the largest ships to sail the River Thames. They were a significant improvement over the previous ships, with Britannic carrying 26,943 passengers in 1937.

However, Britannic's performance was affected by engine troubles, including a minor issue in 1937 that required temporary repairs at Ellis Island. The ship also faced competition from other lines, including United States Lines' Manhattan and Washington, and CGT's Champlain and Lafayette.

In 1938, Britannic carried a relatively low number of passengers on one eastbound crossing, but still managed to fill 75% of its capacity on another crossing. The ship's passenger numbers were affected by its size and the competition it faced.

Here's a brief comparison of the passenger numbers for Britannic, Georgic, and Champlain in 1937:

It's worth noting that Britannic continued to serve with the Cunard Line until 1957, when it was transferred to the Liverpool to Halifax route.

The mv Britannic was a massive ship, with a keel laid on April 14, 1927, in Belfast, Ireland. It was constructed by Harland and Wolff in yard 807.

The ship's construction became even more necessary after the loss of the RMS Celtic, which ran aground near Cobh, Ireland, in December 1928.

Britannic was launched on August 6, 1929, with the second-largest ship's engine in the world after the MS Augustus.

The ship was driven by a five-cylinder four-stroke double-acting Burmeister & Wain diesel engine, which developed 4,214 NHP and gave her a service speed of 17.5 knots.

The construction of Britannic was a significant undertaking that took place simultaneously with another project at the White Star Line.

The ship's keel was laid in Belfast's yard 807 on April 14, 1927.

Britannic was designed to be a more luxurious option than the Big Four ocean liners, which it was replacing.

The ship was constructed by Harland and Wolff, the same company that built the Titanic.

Construction of the ship became even more necessary after the loss of the RMS Celtic in 1928.

The ship was launched on August 6, 1929, with the second-largest ship's engine in the world at the time.

Britannic was powered by a diesel engine driving two propellers, which provided large fuel savings and reduced vibrations.

The ship's hull was black with a golden line, and the underside was painted rust red.

Two funnels were present, but only the after one was functional, with the forward funnel used for radar installations and water supplies.

The M.V. Britannic was built as a Cabin Ship with berths for 1,553 passengers. She had a Gymnasium and a magnificent indoor Swimming pool.

The Cabin Class Public Venues were simply staggeringly beautiful, and the Dining Saloon was in the 'Louis XIV' style. The Dining Saloon's style was truly fit for royalty.

She had eight holds, one of which could carry unpackaged cars. This feature was a game-changer for passengers who wanted to bring their vehicles along.

The ship had two fully refrigerated holds, with a total refrigerated capacity of 72,440 cu ft. This meant that passengers could enjoy fresh produce and other chilled items during their journey.

The M.V. Britannic had 24 lifeboats, as well as 2 motor boats and 2 backup boats. This was an impressive safety feature that gave passengers and crew peace of mind.

Her two funnels were low and broad, a design feature common in early 'Harland and Wolff' motor ships. The aft funnel was an exhaust funnel, while the forward funnel was a dummy that housed two Smoking Rooms.

The M.V. Britannic's maiden voyage was a grand affair, with an estimated 14,000 people turning out to see her off in Liverpool.

She made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on June 28, 1930, and arrived at New York on July 8, 1930.

The Britannic's speed was initially limited to 16 knots for her first three voyages, but she quickly picked up speed, averaging 17.5 knots on a westbound crossing in October 1930.

She went on to beat her own record, averaging 19.5 knots on an eastbound crossing in July 1932.

During her time in port, over 1,500 people paid $1 each to board and visit the ship, and a crowd of over 6,000 came to see her depart New York for Cobh and Liverpool on July 12, 1930.

Britannic offered a 54-day cruise from New York to Madeira and the Mediterranean in January 1950.

Tickets for this cruise ranged from $1,350 to $4,500 per person.

The ship suffered engine trouble just two days into the cruise and had to turn back for repairs.

In February 1952, Britannic's winter cruise was a 66-day tour to the Mediterranean, carrying only 459 passengers.

Fares for Britannic's 66-day Mediterranean cruise in January 1956 started at $1,275, the same price as in 1953.

Britannic's 1953 Mediterranean winter cruise was 65 days long.

The ship's capacity was not fully utilized, with less than half of its passengers on board for some cruises.

In 1960, Britannic made her annual 66-day cruise from New York to the Mediterranean as usual.

Cunard had scheduled Britannic for 19 transatlantic crossings in 1961, but the ship's engine troubles cut short its service.

The cost of repairs in 1960 was around $400,000.

The M.V. Britannic was delivered to her owners in Liverpool on June 21, 1930, with enthusiastic press coverage.

It was a big day for the ship, as she departed Liverpool on June 28, 1930, on her maiden voyage to New York. An estimated 14,000 people turned out at Liverpool to give her a send-off, which was reported to be the "greatest send-off known to Merseyside".

The Britannic called at Belfast and Glasgow to load mail before continuing to New York. She arrived at New York on July 8, where fire tugs came out to welcome her with water spouts.

Around 1,500 people paid $1 each to board and visit the ship while she was in port, and a crowd of over 6,000 came to see her depart New York for Cobh and Liverpool on July 12.

For her first three voyages, the Britannic's speed was limited to 16 knots until her engines were run in.

M.V. Britannic's maiden voyage was a grand affair, with an estimated 14,000 people turning out to give her a send-off in Liverpool on June 28, 1930.

She departed Liverpool on June 28, 1930, and arrived at New York on July 8, 1930, after calling at Belfast and Glasgow to load mail.

Fire tugs greeted her arrival in New York, spraying water spouts to welcome the new liner.

Over the next few days, around 1,500 people paid $1 each to board and visit the ship while she was in port.

A crowd of more than 6,000 came to see her depart New York for Cobh and Liverpool on July 12.

For her first three voyages, the M.V. Britannic's speed was limited to 16 knots until her engines were run in.

Her speed was increased thereafter, and at the beginning of October 1930, she averaged 17.5 knots on a westbound crossing.

She eventually beat her own record, averaging 19.5 knots on an eastbound crossing in July 1932.

Here are the details of her final voyages:

M.V. Britannic's final eastbound crossing from New York via Cobh to Liverpool took place on November 25, 1960, with 353 passengers aboard.

She was scrapped in February 1961, and her interior fittings were auctioned off.

During World War II, the mv Britannic was requisitioned on multiple occasions to serve as a troop ship. In August 1939, it was called to Southampton to transport troops, and a few days later, it left for Glasgow to collect officers of the British Indian army.

The ship played a significant role in transporting troops and goods across the globe, with a capacity that increased from 3,000 to 5,000 troops. In 1943, it served as the command ship of a convoy to land troops in Algiers.

Between November 1943 and May 1944, the Britannic made eight North Atlantic crossings, carrying 20,000 American soldiers. It then transported troops to Italy and the Middle East.

The ship's services were not limited to military personnel; it also transported British-Canadian women, married to Canadian soldiers, and their children, to Canada in April and May 1945. From the outbreak of World War II, the ship carried 173,550 people over 324,792 miles.

In the final years of the war, the Britannic continued to serve as a troop ship, making multiple round trips between Britain and various destinations in Africa, the Middle East, and Italy.

The MV Britannic's layout was divided into 11 decks, with a gross tonnage of 28,950 tons and a length of 882 feet.

Each of the ship's 12 passenger decks had a distinctive character, with the lowest deck used for cargo and the upper decks reserved for passengers.

The ship's accommodations were designed to be luxurious, with elaborate dining rooms, a swimming pool, and a gym.

The Britannic had a capacity for over 3,300 passengers and crew members.

Luxurious staterooms and suites were available for those who wanted to indulge in the finer things in life.