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Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named Warspite. The origins of the name are unclear, although it is probably from the Elizabethan-era spelling of the word 'spite' – 'spight' – 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 Ajax after the Greek hero Ajax:
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Arethusa after the Greek mythological nymph Arethusa who was transformed by Artemis into a fountain.
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Apollo, after the Greek god Apollo:
Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Dido, after Dido, the legendary founder and queen of Carthage.
Eleven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Cumberland, after the traditional English county of Cumberland, England:
Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Edinburgh, for the Scottish city of Edinburgh. In addition, one ship of the Royal Navy has carried the similar name HMS Duke of Edinburgh.
Eleven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Kent, after the county of Kent and the Duke of Kent.
HMS Spartan may refer to one of these vessels of the British Royal Navy named in recognition of the military abilities of the Spartans of ancient Greece.
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Intrepid:
Six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Minotaur after the minotaur, a creature in Greek mythology:
Nine ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMSPenelope, after the faithful wife Penelope of Greek mythology.
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been called HMS Aurora or HMS Aurore, after the Roman Goddess of the dawn.
Four ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Argonaut after the Argonauts of Greek mythology:
Six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Cossack, after the Cossack people of Eastern Europe, whilst another was begun but was cancelled while building:
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Severn after the River Severn:
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Undaunted:
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Alarm, whilst another was planned but later cancelled:
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Medusa, after the ancient Greek mythological figure Medusa:
Eleven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Blonde:
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.
