All of this is from a book entitled TITANIC by Thomas E. Bonsall, ISBN
0-8317-8774-0, published by Galley Books. The White Star Lines planned
three great ships to run the lucrative North Atlantic route, all of the
same basic design. The first was the OLYMPIC put in service June of
1911. The OLYMPIC was in passenger service for White Star until around
1934. She was scrapped in 1937. The second ship was the TITANIC. The
final was the BRITANNIC launched Feb. 26, 1914.
Originally, the 3rd ship was said to have been named the GIGANTIC,
but the "huge-size" related name supposedly fell from favor after the
TITANIC disaster. The BRITANNIC never saw passenger service. Her
launch coincided with the beginning of WW I so she was converted and
began life as a hospital ship. The BRITANNIC was sunk during the war,
most believe by hitting a mine.
Regards,
Dick Merchant,
Carlsbad, NM
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