The History of Royal Navy Ships

Nelson used flag signals to transmit orders during the Battle of Trafalgar.

The history of Royal Navy ships dates to 1418, when the Grace Dieu sailed from England with her army of archers to fight the Genoese.

15th to 17th Centuries

England's Navy began as wooden sailing ships. The Mary Rose (1511) was one of the first ships to have heavy guns that were shot from portholes. Sovereign of the Seas (1638) had three gun decks and allegedly sank a Dutch warship in the Battle of Kentish Knock with a single broadside. Toward the 1660s, the term "Her/His Majesty's Ship" (HMS) came into use; previously, ships were called King's or Queen's Ship.

18th to 19th Centuries

HMS Victory was built in 1778. In 1805, she flew the famous flag signal "England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty" at the Battle of Trafalgar, where Nelson was killed but the battle was won. HMS Warrior (1861) was steam-powered and made of iron. She was a forerunner of the metal ships to come.

20th Century Onward

HMS Dreadnought (1906) was used at the Battle of Jutland in World War I. Following a naval tradition, she was named after another ship from a previous era--one that fought at the Battle of Trafalgar. Another HMS Dreadnought was christened in 1963, carrying on the legacy.

During World War II, German U-boats attacked shipping in the Atlantic; in response, the Royal Navy built small corvettes to act as escorts. These 1,000-ton ships carried a 102 mm gun and up to 72 depth charges. In 1942, frigates, slightly larger escort ships, were introduced.

References

• Royal Navy: History