HMHS Britannic | “The Fate of the Lady” | Part 4

The HMHS Britannic completed Five Mediterranean Voyages to the Middle Eastern Theatre and was transporting the Wounded back to Great Britain. On November 12 1916 HMHS Britannic would depart Liverpool for the Last time on her route to Lemnos, Greece at 2:23 PM, on her sixth voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. The HMHS Britannic passed through the Gibraltar Strait and arrived at Naples, Uneventful on the Early Morning of November 17. A Storm on Naples made The HMHS Britannic stay in Naples until Sunday. The HMHS Britannic left Naples on her route to Lemnos, The Ocean Liner passed the Strait of Messina and by Morning, The HMHS Britannic was sailing at Full Speed towards the Kea Channel. It was said that There was a French Cruiser sunk in the Kea Channel and reported to be hit by a Torpedo a Few Weeks ago and the HMHS Britannic wasn't too alarmed by the Report and continued sailing on their Course.

At 8:12 AM on November 21, 1916, an explosion vibrated the entire vessel there were 1,063 Onboard 673 Crew Members & Staff, 315 from the Royal Army Medical Group, and 77 Nurses & Including the Captain. The Explosion was unknown some may say it was a Torpedo and some may say it was a Mine. The Reaction of the People inside was sudden Doctors, Nurses, Staff, and Crew Members went straight to the Boat Deck to prepare to launch the Davits and Lifeboats and begin loading the Lifeboats full of People. The Explosion didn't cause everybody to go to the boat deck they thought that they collided with a smaller vessel. Captain Barlett and his Chief Officer were at the bridge when the event took fold. The damage was on the Starboard Side and it came Evident that the Ship was taking Water quickly. The first four watertight compartments were beginning to flood at a rapid rate Captain Bartlett ordered the Watertight Doors to be shut but when The Wreck was being searched the report showed that None of the Watertight Doors were sealed. Bartlett sented out SOS Messages to any nearby Vessels, but HMHS Britannic heard nothing in reply due to the cables that were disrupted during the Explosion.

The HMHS Britannic steadily tilted to the Starboard side and was still moving. As Water begins to rise to B Deck and Captain Barlett knew that the Ocean Liner can't last that long at that moment. By 8:50 AM most of the Lifeboats were launched and HMHS Britannic's Sinking was slowed down Captain Barlett ordered the Engines to be restarted in the hope to beached the HMHS Britannic and, at 9:00 AM a report came that Water begins to reach D Deck. Facing reality, Bartlett gave the final order to halt the Engines and ordered an Abandon ship.

HMHS Britannic would immediately sink after Captain Barlett boarded a Lifeboat.

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