Editing HMHS Britannic (section)

=== Construction ===
[[File:Britannic Funnel in transport.jpg|thumb|One of ''Britannic''{{'s}} funnels being transported to Harland & Wolff shipyards]]
[[File:Britannic & Olympic Sisters Together in Belfast Shipyard.jpg|thumb|''Britannic'' (right) during fitting out in Belfast alongside ''Olympic'']]
''Britannic''{{'}}s keel was laid on 30 November 1911 at the [[Harland and Wolff]] shipyard in Belfast, on the gantry slip previously occupied by {{RMS|Olympic|3=2}}, 13 months after the [[Ceremonial ship launching|launch]] of that ship, and {{RMS|Arlanza|1911|2}}, launched seven days before.<ref name=Piouffre307 /> The acquisition of the ship was planned to be at the beginning of 1914.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2011|p=216}}.</ref> Due to improvements introduced as a consequence of the ''Titanic''{{'}}s disaster, ''Britannic'' was not launched until 26 February 1914,<ref name=MC242>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2011|p=242}}.</ref> which was filmed along with the fitting of a funnel.<ref>[http://www.britishpathe.com/video/ss-britannic-aka-ss-Britannic Launch footage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511204700/http://www.britishpathe.com/video/ss-britannic-aka-ss-brittanic |date=11 May 2014 }} and [http://www.britishpathe.com/video/britannic "Funnel fitting".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621061217/http://www.britishpathe.com/video/britannic |date=21 June 2013 }} British Pathé. Retrieved 18 February 2013</ref> Several speeches were given in front of the press, and a dinner was organised by [[White Star Line|White Star]] in honour of the launching.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2011|p=238}}.</ref> Fitting out began subsequently. The ship entered dry dock in September and her propellers were installed.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2011|p=239}}.</ref>

Reusing ''Olympic''{{'}}s space saved the shipyard time and money by not clearing out a third slip similar in size to those used for the two previous vessels. In August 1914, before ''Britannic'' could commence transatlantic service between [[New York City|New York]] and [[Southampton]], the [[World War I|First World War]] began. Immediately, all [[shipyard]]s with [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] contracts were given priority to use available raw materials. All civil contracts including ''Britannic'' were slowed.<ref name=MC240>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2011|p=240}}.</ref>

The naval authorities requisitioned a large number of ships as [[armed merchant cruiser]]s or for troop transport. The Admiralty paid the companies for the use of their ships but the risk of losing a ship in naval operations was high. The larger ocean liners were not initially taken for naval use, because smaller ships were easier to operate. ''Olympic'' returned to Belfast on 3 November 1914, while work on ''Britannic'' continued slowly.<ref name=MC240/>