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Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Enterprise while another was planned:
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named Warspite. The origins of the name are unclear, although it is probably from the word spight – an Elizabethan-era spelling variation of both spite and speight – in part embodying contempt for the Navy's enemies, but which was also the common name for the green woodpecker, suggesting the 'Warspight' would poke holes in enemy ships' (wooden) hulls. Until 1919 a woodpecker was used as the ships' crest; the official badge was a cannon, although the woodpecker continued to be used on the ships' tompions or gun muzzle plugs. Warspite carries the most battle honours of any ship in the Royal Navy, with the sixth Warspite being awarded fifteen of them.
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Royal Oak, after the Royal Oak in which Charles II hid himself during his flight from the country in the English Civil War:
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name Renown, whilst three others have borne the name at various stages in their construction:
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Apollo, after the Greek god Apollo:
Two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Duke of York, after numerous holders of the title of Duke of York :
Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Agamemnon, after the legendary Greek king Agamemnon.
Nineteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Lion or HMS Lyon, after the lion, an animal traditionally associated with courage, and also used in several heraldric motifs representing England, Scotland and the British Monarchy. Another ship was planned but never completed:
Eight ships and a shore establishment of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Centurion, after the centurions of ancient Rome. A ninth ship was planned but never built.
Eighteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Eagle, after the eagle.
Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ramillies after the Battle of Ramillies :
Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Howe, after Admiral Richard Howe:
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Queen. It is one of the oldest ship names of the Royal Navy dating from the time of Henry III of England.
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Glory, or the French variant HMS Gloire:
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Iris after the Greek mythological figure Iris or after the flower by that name. A ninth was planned but renamed before entering service:
Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Ranger
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Falmouth, after the town of Falmouth:
Five or six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Cornwallis, after Admiral Sir William Cornwallis.
References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
