White Star Line "Olympic" class were to be the biggest and most luxurious ships in the world. The "Olympic" was the only ship of this class that was profitable for White Star. "Titanic" sank on her maiden voyage, while "Britannic" was requisitioned by the British government before she was fully fitted, and used as a hospital ship during World War I. "Britannic" hit an underwater mine, in the Kea Channel off the Greek island of Kea, and sank on the morning of 21 November 1916. Like many other shipping lines, the White Star Line suffered heavy losses during the First World War which
Sinking of the RMS Titanic reduced the rudder's effectiveness, therefore impairing the turning ability of the ship. Had Murdoch turned the ship while maintaining her forward speed, "Titanic" might have missed the iceberg with feet to spare. In 2010, Louise Patten asserted that her grandfather Charles Lightoller claimed that the helmsman Robert Hichens initially panicked and turned the rudder in the wrong direction and that subsequently Bruce Ismay ordered the boat to continue "Slow Ahead" in the belief that "Titanic" was unsinkable. This, allegedly, had never been revealed because of the insurance implications. In the event, "Titanic"s heading changed just in time to avoid a