HMS Bellerophon

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Several ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Bellerophon after the mythological Greek hero.

• The first Bellerophon was a 74-gun third-rate launched in 1786, a prison ship from 1815 (where she became famous for transporting Napoleon), renamed Captivity in 1824, and sold in 1836.
• The second Bellerophon, 80 was a third rate, originally named HMS Talavera but renamed HMS Waterloo before her launch in 1818. Renamed Bellerephon in October 1824. Relegated to harbour service in 1848 and sold for breaking up in 1892.
• The third Bellerophon was an early battleship, launched in 1865, renamed Indus III in 1904 and used for training, then sold in 1922.
• The fourth Bellerophon was a dreadnought battleship that was launched in 1907, fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, and sold for breakup in 1921.
• A Bellerophon of the Minotaur class of cruisers was ordered in 1942. The original name, Bellerophon was changed to Blake (C99) before construction started in 1944, it was cancelled in 1946. Construction was resumed in 1954 to a greatly changed design and the resulting vessel remained in service until December 1979.
• Another Minotaur class cruiser was ordered as Bellerophon, but renamed Tiger in 1945 whilst under construction. Later converted to a guided missile cruiser, remaining in in service until 1978.

[edit] Name

British sailors found it difficult to pronounce its name, and it was usually called the Billy Ruffian.

[edit] References

• Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475. 
• A history of the Tiger class