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Brick Model of the Month: HMHS Britannic
Hello and welcome to the blog. Hope you had a fantastic Christmas break - whether that meant feasting with family and friends or chilling on the sofa in front of the telly with a large bowl of snacks, or anything in between!
If you're wondering whether our latest COBI order has arrived yet (estimated arrival 27th December - 3rd January). The short answer is no. As of today (Friday 27th) the tracking hasn't updated since 23rd December so, as you might expect this time of year, we just have to wait.
In the meantime, I thought I'd take a deep dive into the history of one of the most pre-ordered model kits on the way - COBI's HMHS Britannic. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend.
Warmest wishes,
Zoë
If you're wondering whether our latest COBI order has arrived yet (estimated arrival 27th December - 3rd January). The short answer is no. As of today (Friday 27th) the tracking hasn't updated since 23rd December so, as you might expect this time of year, we just have to wait.
In the meantime, I thought I'd take a deep dive into the history of one of the most pre-ordered model kits on the way - COBI's HMHS Britannic. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend.
Warmest wishes,
Zoë
The Tragic Tale of HMHS Britannic: From Luxury Liner to Hospital Ship
The Tragic Tale of HMHS Britannic: From Luxury Liner to Hospital Ship
The HMHS Britannic, the third and largest of the White Star Line’s Olympic-class ocean liners, holds a unique and tragic place in maritime history. Originally conceived as a luxurious passenger liner, she was transformed into a hospital ship during World War I and ultimately met a premature and dramatic end.
Construction and Design
Construction of the Britannic began in 1911 at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, the same site where her sister ships, RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, were built. Designed as an improvement on the Titanic, Britannic incorporated enhanced safety features in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster in 1912. These included a double hull, more lifeboats, and reinforced bulkheads, making her one of the safest ships of her time. Measuring 882 feet in length and capable of carrying over 3,300 passengers, the Britannic was a marvel of Edwardian engineering. Pictured below: All three White Star Line’s Olympic-class ocean liners: Olympic, Titanic and Britannic.
FASCINATING FACT #1
Britannic was originally planned to be named "Gigantic," but following the Titanic disaster, the name was changed to avoid public association with tragedy.
Wartime Requisition
The outbreak of World War I in 1914 drastically altered Britannic’s fate. Before she could enter commercial service, she was requisitioned by the British Admiralty and converted into a hospital ship. Renamed His Majesty’s Hospital Ship (HMHS) Britannic, she was painted white with large red crosses and green stripes, signalling her role as a non-combatant vessel under the Geneva Convention. With the capacity to carry over 3,000 wounded soldiers, she was equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities for the time.
FASCINATING FACT #2
The conversion process saw the installation of operating theatres, wards, and even an elevator system to assist with moving patients—a remarkable innovation for its time.
Service as a Hospital Ship
Britannic’s service as a hospital ship was short-lived but significant. She made several successful voyages, transporting injured soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign back to Britain. However, her operational career came to a sudden and tragic end on 21 November 1916. While sailing through the Kea Channel in the Aegean Sea, Britannic struck a German naval mine. The explosion caused catastrophic damage, and despite her improved safety features, she sank more than twice as quickly as the Titanic.
FASCINATING FACT #3
Titanic survivor Violet Jessop was aboard the Britannic during its sinking. She managed to survive yet another maritime disaster, earning her the nickname "Miss Unsinkable."
The Sinking of Britannic
Of the 1,065 people on board, 30 lost their lives, most of whom were killed by lifeboats that were accidentally drawn into the ship’s still-turning propellers - see video below for more details about why this happened. The majority of passengers and crew were successfully evacuated, thanks to the ship’s abundant lifeboats and the calm weather conditions. The swift response of nearby vessels also played a crucial role in the rescue efforts. Pictured below: the survivors of Britannic onboard destroyer HMS Scourge.
FASCINATING FACT #4
Britannic sank in just 55 minutes (less than half the time it took for the Titanic to sink). It’s rapid sinking was partly attributed to open portholes that allowed water to flood the ship more quickly, a factor that undermined her advanced safety design.
Legacy and Discovery
The sinking of the Britannic was the largest loss of a ship during World War I, but it remains less well-known than the Titanic disaster. This is partly because the Britannic was serving as a hospital ship rather than a passenger liner, and the loss of life, while tragic, was considerably lower.
Today, the wreck of the Britannic rests on the seabed near the Greek island of Kea. Discovered in 1975 by famed explorer Jacques Cousteau, the wreck is remarkably well-preserved, offering a haunting glimpse into her ill-fated history. Divers and researchers continue to study the site, unravelling the details of her final moments.
Why the Britannic sank faster than its older sister Titanic
Check out this 13 minute video about the sinking of the Britannic. It's made by an amateur YouTuber and you probably want to skip the first few minutes, but I found rest of it really interesting for more details of how and why the Britannic sank in less than half the time it took the Titanic to go down.
HMHS Britannic brick model ship - COBI 1681 - 636 bricks
- 636 bricks
- Scale 1:700
- Bodywork with pad printing
- Easy-to-follow instruction manual
- Block stand with name of ship
- Compatible with other leading brands of construction blocks
- Length 38.5cm, Width 5cm, Height 13cm.
Martyn
I Really Like and will only get the Cobi 1:300 scale ships – I was lucky and found the discontinued Cobi 1:300 Titanic – but what I really would love and I wish Cobi would make it is a 1:300 HMS Prince of Wales – Man that would be an Awesome Historic Collection addition -
Ian Creasy
I’d love to get Titanic, Olympic and Brittanic but only if Cobi do them in 1:300 scale same as their other ships