BRITANNIC ( 2ND ) / GIGANTIC

LAUNCHED IN 1914 AND ORIGINALLY WAS TO BE NAMED 'GIGANTIC' ( SHE WAS 50,000 TONNES).AS SHE WAS NEARING COMPLETION WW1 BROKE OUT,AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN J.P.MORGAN ( IMM ) AND THE ROYAL NAVY SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO HOSPITAL SHIP DUTY AND GIVEN THE NAME HMHS BRITANNIC.IN 1916 SHE STRUCK A MINE IN THE AEGEAN SEA,TWO LIFEBOATS,CARRYING SEVENTY PEOPLE BETWEEN THEM,WERE LAUNCHED WHILE SHE WAS STILL UNDERWAY,THE BOATS WERE DRAWN INTO BRITANNIC'S PROPELLERS AND THIRTY PEOPLE WERE KILLED.BRITANNIC BEGAN TO LIST BADLY, PORTHOLES ON THE UPPER DECKS WERE OPEN AND AS THE LIST INCREASED WATER POURED INTO THE VESSEL THROUGH THESE OPEN PORTHOLES,BRITANNIC SANK IN LESS THAN HOUR IN ABOUT 400 FEET OF WATER.ALTHOUGH INTENDED AS A PASSENGER SHIP SHE NEVER CARRIED A SINGLE PAYING PASSENGER.