HMS Ranger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

There have been 15 different HMS Rangers in the Royal Navy over the past 300 years, from the sloop hired in 1718 by Lt Robert Maynard in order to capture and kill the legendary pirate Blackbeard, to the present P2000 allocated to Sussex URNU. Most, somewhat appropriately, were small vessels in coastal service, but also included several ships of note:

  • The 6th rate frigate that was originally the French privateer Deux Couronnes, which was captured by HMS Gloucester. Seized 5 May 1747, sold 29 May 1749.
  • The cutter that saw action in the battle of the Glorious First of June, 1794 (from which the ship gets her only battle honour). Bought Feb 1787, captured by the French 28 Jun 1794, recaptured by the British 14 Oct 1797 (renamed HMS Venture).
  • The "Philomel" Class wooden steam gunvessel (570 tons) that spent the period 1860-7 successfully fighting the West African slave trade off the coats of Niger. Built at Deptford, launched 26 Nov 1859, sold 3 Nov 1869.
  • The "Algerine" Class composite steam gunvessel of 835 tons that spent 7 years on the East Indies station, including the defence of Suakin on the Red Sea, during the 1883-1885 Sudanese Wars . In fact, an additional battle honour (Sudan - 1884) was awarded to HMS Ranger from this campaign, but this was deleted in 1954, coincidentally the year in which she (the largest HMS Ranger to date) was finally broken up. Built at Glasgow, launched 12 Feb 1880, sold 24 Sep 1892 (hired by RN as a tender 1914 - 19 but not commissioned).
  • The "Opossum" Class destroyer (320 tons) in the 1st World War. Notable for being the first command of the future Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty. Built Hebburn-on-Tyne, launched 4 Oct 1895, sold 20 May 1920.
  • The current HMS Ranger completed 1988 is a P2000 class fast patrol boat.

[edit] In fiction

The fictitious Polaris nuclear missile carrying submarine captured in the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" was also named HMS Ranger.


[edit] Reference

This article includes a list of ships with the same or similar names. If an internal link for a specific ship referred you to this page, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended ship article, if one exists.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../h/m/s/HMS_Ranger_6ab5.html"