The Olympic and Britannic were the sister ships of the RMS Titanic. The Olympic was launched before the Titanic, and unlike her unlucky sister Titanic, which sank on April 14/15, 1912,She has a long and illustrious career, earning herself the nickname "Old Reliable". The third sister, Britannic, was not so lucky, and sank while serving as a hospital ship!
The following statistics and short history is taken from the book "The Atlantic Liners" by Frederick Emmons, (1972) Drake Publishers or (1984) Bonanaza Books:
"RMS Olympic - Built: 1911 -:- In service: 1911-1935
Gross Registered Tonnage: 45,324 (46,439 after 1912/13 alterations)
Length and Breadth: 883ft x 92ft -:- Number of Screws: Triple screw
Type of Engines: combination triple expansion engines and turbine -:- Service speed: 23 knots
Built by Harland and Wolff -:- Maiden Voyage: Southampton - New York, 14 June 1911.
Timeline:
- Badly damaged in collision with cruiser H M S Hawke off Portsmouth, 20 September 1911.
- Extensively rebuilt after loss of sister Titanic in 1912.
- Converted to troopship September 1915.
- Rammed and sank the German submarine U-103, 12 May 1918.
- Resumed passenger service July 1920.
- Transferred to Cunard - White Star Line 1934.
- Rammed and sank the Nantucket Lightship with all hands during thick fog, 16 May 1934. (7 killed, or 7 of 11 depending on the source!)
- Withdrawn from service and partially broken up at Jarrow 1935
- Towed to Inverkeithing for final demolition/scrapping 1937.