The sister of the Germanic the Britannic was first intended to have the name Hellenic, but the name was changed before her launch.

 

The Britannic was  equipped with an adjustable propeller shaft, so that the propeller could be lowered deeper on the open sea, thereby bettering its thrust. Although not the largest ship in the world, she was still the largest so far built by Harland & Wolff, with a gross tonnage of 5,004. To meet the competition, these two new ships were to be about 1.5 knots faster than White Star's first quartet.

 

She captured the Blue Riband in 1876, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots.

 

In October 1899, the Britannic was requisitioned by the government to serve as a troopship in the Boer War. With her hull painted white and funnels all buff-coloured, she was turned into His Majesty's Transport No. 62. In this guise, she made ten voyages.

In November of 1900, the Britannic was given the honourable task of representing Great Britain at the review in Sydney harbour that marked the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia. On that voyage, the Britannic transported the honour guard.

 

In July 1903 she was sold to German scrappers for £11,500. The following month she was towed to Hamburg where she was to spend her dying days. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.757; vol.5, p.1877]