HMS Challenger facts for kids

The name HMS Challenger' has been given to eight different ships in the Royal Navy (that's the British Navy!). The most famous one was the fifth ship, Challenger. It was a special survey vessel that went on an amazing journey called the Challenger expedition from 1872 to 1876. This trip helped us learn a lot about the ocean!

Ships Named HMS Challenger

The First HMS Challenger (1806)

The very first ship named HMS Challenger (1806) was a small, fast ship called a brig-sloop. It had 16 guns. It was built in 1806. In 1811, the French Navy captured this ship. Some stories say it later became an American privateer ship called True Blooded Yankee.

The Second HMS Challenger (1813)

The second HMS Challenger (1813) was another brig-sloop with 18 guns. It was part of the Cruizer-class brig-sloop class of ships. This ship was launched in 1813. Later, it was used as a floating storage place, called a hulk. It was sold in 1824 in a place called Trincomalee.

The Third HMS Challenger (1826)

The third HMS Challenger (1826) was a larger ship with 28 guns. It was known as a sixth rate ship. This Challenger was launched in 1826. Sadly, it was wrecked off the coast of Chile in 1835. This ship, led by Charles Fremantle, helped create the colony of Western Australia in 1829.

The Fourth Challenger (Planned)

There was a plan for a fourth Challenger. It was going to be an 18-gun ship called a corvette, weighing 810 tons. The order for this ship was placed in 1845 at Chatham Dockyard. However, the plan was cancelled in 1848, so this ship was never built.

The Fifth HMS Challenger (1858)

The fifth HMS Challenger (1858) was a very important ship. It was a screw corvette, meaning it used a propeller for power. It was launched in 1858. In 1872, it was changed into a special survey ship for its famous journey, the Challenger expedition. After its big trip, it became a hulk in 1880. It was finally sold for scrap metal in 1921. Other famous vessels, like the research ship  Glomar Challenger, the Apollo 17 lunar module, and the Space Shuttle Challenger, were named after this amazing ship!

The Sixth HMS Challenger (1902)

The sixth HMS Challenger (1902) was a "second class cruiser." This type of ship was also called a protected cruiser. It was part of the Challenger class class. This ship was in service from 1902 until 1920.

The Seventh HMS Challenger (1931)

The seventh HMS Challenger (1931) was another survey ship. It was launched in 1931. This ship helped map the oceans and gather information. It was taken apart in 1954.

The Eighth HMS Challenger (1981)

The eighth HMS Challenger (K07) was a very modern ship for its time. It was the Royal Navy's first ship built specifically to support saturation diving missions. This means it helped divers work deep underwater for long periods. It was launched in 1981 and sold in 1993.

Battle Honours

Ships named Challenger have earned special awards called battle honours for their bravery in battles:

• San Sebastian, 1813
• Cameroons, 1914

This article includes a list of ships with the same or similar names. If an internal link for a specific ship led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended ship article, if one exists.

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