HMS Speedwell

Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Speedwell:

• Speedwell was a galley captured from the French in 1560 and broken up in 1580.
• Speedwell was a 40-gun galleon launched in 1573 as the 41-gun Swiftsure. She was rebuilt in 1592, renamed Speedwell and rearmed to 40 guns in 1607 and was lost in 1624.
• HMS Speedwell was a 20-gun ship launched in 1656 as HMS Cheriton. She was renamed HMS Speedwell in 1660 and was wrecked in 1676.
• HMS Speedwell was an 8-gun fireship purchased in 1688 and sunk as a breakwater in 1692.
• HMS Speedwell was an 8-gun fireship launched in 1690. She was rebuilt in 1702 as a 28-gun fifth rate and was wrecked in 1720.
• HMS Speedwell was a 14-gun sloop launched in 1744 and sold in 1750.
• HMS Speedwell was an 8-gun sloop launched in 1752. She was converted to a fireship and renamed HMS Spitfire in 1779 and was sold in 1780.
• HMS Speedwell was a cutter of unknown origin, captured by the French in 1761.
• HMS Speedwell was an 18-gun sloop listed in 1775 that the Spanish frigate Santa Bárbara (1768)captured in 26 October 1781 near Gibralltar.
• HMS Speedwell was a 16-gun cutter purchased in 1780. She foundered in 1807.
• HMS Speedwell was a 5-gun schooner purchased in 1815 and sold in 1834.
• HMS Speedwell was a survey cutter purchased in 1841 and sold in 1855.
• HMS Speedwell was a wooden screw Philomel-class gunvessel launched in 1861 and broken up in 1876.
• HMS Speedwell was a torpedo gunboat launched in 1889. She was converted to a minesweeper in 1909 and was sold in 1920.
• HMS Speedwell was a Halcyon-class minesweeper launched in 1935 and sold into civilian service in 1946, being renamed Topaz.

See also

• HMS Speedwell Prize
• HMS Speedy
• Speedwell (ship), 16th century English sailing ship