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Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Prince of Wales, after numerous holders of the title the Prince of Wales.
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:
Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Achilles, after the Greek hero Achilles. Four others, mostly prizes, have had the French spelling of the name, Achille.
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.
Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Orion, after the hunter Orion of Greek mythology:
Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Rodney, of which at least the last five were named after the Georgian Admiral George, Lord Rodney. A seventh was planned but never completed:
Three ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Ladybird, after the ladybird family of beetles (Coccinellidae).
Six Royal Navy ships have borne the name HMS Southampton. All were named after Southampton, a port on the south coast of England.
Three ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Battleaxe:
Three ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Onslow:
Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS P32.
Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS P36.
Several ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Partridge, after the bird.
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Medusa, after the ancient Greek mythological figure Medusa:
Two vessels of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Genista, after the flower:
Three ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Observer:
There have been two ships of the Royal Navy named HMS Rosalind, named after the protagonist in William Shakespeare's As You Like It:
Two vessels of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Mignonette:
Two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name Pentstemon after the flower:
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.
