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
German hospital ship Ophelia HMS "Undaunted", while laying mines off Haak lightship. German command sent out a hospital ship to supposedly search for survivors. Suspicions were aroused when British intelligence learned that "Ophelia" was using a wireless radio set, at that time unusual for a hospital ship, to communicate with the German wireless base at Norddeich station. In addition to using wireless radio she was using coded wireless transmissions; secret codes or their use are forbidden on hospital ships. While in the area, British submarine, HMS "D8", shadowed the German ship. When the "Ophelia" noticed the sub she began to flee the area, further