HMS Britannia

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Eight vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Britannia, after Britannia, the goddess and personification of Britain.

• The first Britannia was a 100-gun first-rate launched in 1682 and dismantled in 1715 for use in building the next Britannia.
• The second Britannia was a 100-gun first-rate launched in 1719, on harbour service in 1745, and broken up in 1749.
• The third Britannia was a 100-gun first-rate launched at Portsmouth in 1762, a participant in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797) and Battle of Trafalgar, later renamed Princess Royal, St. George, and Barfleur, then broken up in 1825. Britannia Beach, British Columbia was named after this ship.
• The fourth Britannia was a 20-gun storeship purchased in 1781 and wrecked the following year.
• The fifth Britannia was a 120-gun first-rate launched in 1820, a training ship after 1859, and broken up in 1869.
• The first rate HMS Prince of Wales became the sixth Britannia when she was given the name 1869, as she replaced the previous vessel in the cadet training role. She was broken up in 1916.
• The seventh Britannia was a battleship launched in 1904 and sunk by UB-50 in 1918.
• The eighth Britannia was a Royal Yacht launched in 1953, later put on exhibition.