HMS Fox

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Fifteen vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Fox, after the fox.

• The first Fox was a 22-gun ship captured from the French in 1650 and expended as a fire ship in 1656.
• The second Fox was a 14-gun ship captured in 1658 and expended as a fire ship in 1666.
• The third Fox was an 8-gun fireship launched in 1690 and expended in 1692 at La Hougue.
• The fourth Fox was a 6-gun sloop launched in 1699 and wrecked later that year.
• The fifth Fox was a 24-gun 6th rate captured in 1705 and wrecked the following year.
• The sixth Fox was a 24-gun 6th rate launched in 1740 and foundered in 1745.
• The seventh Fox was a 24-gun 6th rate launched in 1746 and foundered in a hurricane 1751.
• The eighth Fox was an 8-gun ketch launched at Bombay Dockyard in 1766, and still in the records in 1772.
• The ninth Fox was a 28-gun 6th rate launched in 1733, captured by the Americans in 1777, recaptured a month later, then re-re-captured by the French in 1778.
• The tenth Fox was a 32-gun 5th rate launched in 1780 and broken up 1832.
• The eleventh Fox was a 10-gun cutter purchased in 1794 and sunk in action 1797.
• The twelfth Fox was a 14-gun schooner purchased in 1799 and wrecked later that year.
• The thirteenth Fox was a 46-gun 5th rate launched 1829, converted to a screw frigate in 1856, and broken up 1882.
• The fourteenth Fox was a 2nd class cruiser launched in 1893 and sold in 1920. This ship was attached to the Red Sea squadron during World War I and saw active service bombarding Turkish held ports and intercepting enemy shipping. She was commanded by William Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork.
• The fifteenth Fox was a survey vessel launched in 1967 and sold in 1989.