Britannic (III)
Owner: Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (White Star Line)
Ship Details
Details
Vessel Type: Passenger and cargo ship
Official No: 162316
Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Queen's Island, Belfast
Yard No: 807
Laid down: 14 April 1927
Launched: 6 August 1929
Handed over: 21 June 1930
Port & Date of Registry: Liverpool, 6 June 1930
Managing Owner & Address: Arthur Belcher Cauty, 30 James Street, Liverpool
Description
Number of Decks: 4 & 2 Partial
Number of Masts: 2
Rigged: Fore and aft schooner
Stern: Cruiser
Build: Clencher
Framework & Description of Vessel: Steel
Number of Bulkheads: 15
Number of water ballast tanks: 17
Dimensions
Length: 680.75 ft
Breadth: 82.4 ft
Depth: 53.05 ft
Gross Registered Tonnage: 26,943.46
Machinery
Engine Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast
Engine Type: 2 X vertical reciprocating internal combustion
Cylinders: 20 X 840 millimetres (30 7/16 inches)
Stroke: 1,600 millimetres (63 inches)
Nominal Horse Power: 4,420
Boilers
Description: Single ended donkey
Number: 2
Iron or Steel: Steel with wrought iron tubes
Pressure when loaded: 150 lbs
Screw: Twin
Speed: 18 knots
Signal Letters: L. G. C. F.
NOTES
With the introduction to service of the motor-vessel Britannic in June 1930 a new era in transatlantic travel began. With her streamlined profile and squat funnels (not really required because she was powered by internal combustion engines) style and economy were blended together to produce a winning formula. A true duel-purpose vessel, in the winter she went cruising out of new York to the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean. So successful and profitable she proved to be that the Company immediately order a sister ship (Georgic Yard No. 896).
Britannic, the last of a long and illustrious line, went to the ship breakers in 1960 hardly noticed at the time. With her passing the legend of White Star began to grow and today and the Company that faded into the pages of history in 1934 is as well-known and respected as it was during its glory years at the turn of the 20th century.
