HMS Centurion

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Eight ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Centurion, after the centurions of ancient Rome.

• The first Centurion was a 34-gun ship launched in 1650 and wrecked in 1689.
• The second Centurion was a 48-gun fourth-rate in service from 1691 to 1728.
• The third Centurion was a 60-gun fourth-rate, launched in 1732 and broken up 1769.
• The fourth Centurion was a 50-gun fourth-rate that existed from 1774 to 1825.
• The fifth Centurion was an 80-gun third-rate, launched in 1844 later converted to screw propulsion, and sold in 1870.
• The sixth Centurion was a battleship launched in 1892 and sold in 1910.
• The seventh Centurion was a battleship launched in 1911, still later converted to a target ship, and sunk off Arromanches shortly after D-Day to serve as a breakwater.
• The eighth Centurion was planned as a 9,000 ton cruiser in 1945, but was cancelled in 1946.

The current Centurion is a shore establishment, sharing the same site as HMS Sultan in Gosport, and mainly responsible for personnel and Human Resources functions.