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List of ships and sailors of the Royal Navy facts for kids

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HoratioNelson1
Portrait of Sir Horatio Nelson, a very famous admiral.

This page is all about the amazing ships and brave sailors of the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy is the United Kingdom's main naval warfare force. You'll learn about famous people like Horatio Nelson, who was a brilliant admiral. We'll also look at other well-known people, like the actor Alec Guinness, who served in the Navy. And of course, we'll explore some incredible ships, like the Mary Rose, which have their own special stories!

Famous Ships of the Royal Navy

See also: List of ship names of the Royal Navy

Here are some of the most famous ships that have sailed with the Royal Navy:

  • Mary Rose: This ship sank in 1545. It went down near Portsmouth during a battle called the Battle of the Solent.
  • Golden Hind: This was Sir Francis Drake's main ship. He sailed it all the way around the world and used it to raid Spanish ships.
  • Ark Royal: This ship was the flagship (the main ship) of the English fleet. It fought against the Spanish Armada a long time ago. A more recent Ark Royal was an Invincible-class aircraft carrier. It took part in the Iraq conflict in 2003.
  • Revenge: This ship bravely fought the Spanish Armada. Later, a famous poem was written about its heroic fight against many Spanish ships in 1591.
  • Endeavour: This was a special Royal Navy research ship. Lieutenant James Cook commanded it on his first big journey of discovery.
  • Bounty: This ship is famous for a mutiny (when the crew rebelled) that happened on board.
  • Victory: This was Nelson's flagship. It's still officially in service today! It's the oldest warship in the world that is still active. It's also the flagship of the First Sea Lord.
  • Beagle: This ship carried Charles Darwin on his famous voyage. On this trip, he studied nature and developed his ideas about evolution.
  • Warrior: This was Britain's very first battleship with an iron hull and armour. It was a huge step forward in ship design.
  • Dreadnought: This ship was the first "all big-gun" battleship. It changed how battleships were built around the world.
  • Warspite: This ship fought in the Battle of Jutland during World War I. It also served bravely throughout the Second World War.
  • Hood: This powerful battlecruiser was sadly destroyed by the German battleship Bismarck during World War II.
  • Vanguard: This was the very last battleship built for the Royal Navy. It also got stuck in Portsmouth Harbour once!
  • Dreadnought: This was the first British submarine powered by nuclear energy.
  • Resolution: This was the first British submarine that could carry strategic ballistic missiles.
  • Invincible: This was a light aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers are huge ships that carry planes.
  • Intrepid: The end of the Falklands War was officially signed on board this ship.
  • Conqueror: This is the only nuclear-powered submarine known to have sunk an enemy ship in battle.

Brave Sailors of the Royal Navy

Here are some of the most important and brave sailors who served in the Royal Navy, listed in rough order of when they lived:

Well-Known People Who Served

Many famous people from different walks of life have served in the Royal Navy. Here are a few:

  • Anthony Bate: This English actor was known for his role in TV shows based on John le Carré novels. He served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve from 1945 to 1947.
  • Peter Bull: An English actor, he served as a lieutenant commander during World War II. He was awarded the DSC for his bravery.
  • James Callaghan: He later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He joined the Navy in 1942 as an Ordinary Seaman and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1944.
  • Sean Connery: The famous actor, known for playing James Bond, joined the Royal Navy in 1946. He worked as an anti-aircraft gunner before leaving in 1949.
  • Harry H. Corbett: An actor famous for the show Steptoe and Son, he served in the Royal Marines during the end of World War II.
  • Ian Fleming: This author wrote the exciting James Bond novels. He worked in the Naval Intelligence Division during World War II.
  • William Golding: A novelist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He served as a lieutenant and was on a destroyer when the German battleship Bismarck was sunk.
  • John Gregson: This actor joined the Royal Navy during World War II and served on minesweepers. He later used this experience in the 1956 film The Battle of the River Plate.
  • Alec Guinness: A very famous actor, he served during World War II. He commanded a landing craft during the invasion of Sicily and Elba. He also helped transport supplies to Yugoslav fighters.
  • Jack Gwillim: He served in the Navy for 20 years, becoming a commander. After leaving the Navy in 1946, he became a well-known actor.
  • Michael Havers, Baron Havers: A lawyer and Attorney General, he served as a 19-year-old midshipman on Sirius during World War II.
  • Michael Hordern: This actor served on Illustrious during "Operation Ironclad" in 1942. He later became a Lieutenant Commander.
  • James Robertson Justice: He joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He left the service in 1943 after an injury.
  • Sir Ludovic Kennedy: A journalist, broadcaster, and author. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II. His father commanded HMS Rawalpindi, a merchant ship that had a difficult encounter with powerful German battleships in 1939.
  • Laurence Olivier: A legendary actor, he served in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. He rose to the rank of lieutenant.
  • Peter O'Toole: This actor served as a radioman during his National Service from 1950 to 1952.
  • Patrick Macnee: An actor, he served during World War II with the rank of lieutenant.
  • Nicholas Monsarrat: This author served as a lieutenant commander during World War II.
  • Kenneth More: An actor, he was a lieutenant on Aurora during World War II.
  • Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: He served during and after World War II. He was recognized for his actions at the Battle of Cape Matapan. He later commanded the frigate HMS Magpie. He ended his naval career when his wife became Queen.
  • Jon Pertwee: An actor best known for playing the Third Doctor in Doctor Who. He served during World War II as a radioman. He was transferred off the Hood just before it sank.
  • Michael Redgrave: An English actor, director, and author. He served in Illustrious during World War II.
  • Ralph Richardson: An actor, he served as a lieutenant commander during World War II.
  • Nevil Shute: An author and engineer, he served as a lieutenant commander working on weapons during World War II.
  • Patrick Troughton: An actor best known for playing the Second Doctor in Doctor Who. He served in Coastal Forces during World War II. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and commanded a motor gun boat.
  • Godfrey Winn: A British journalist, writer, and actor. He trained at HMS Ganges. His book PQ17 was about his experiences on Convoy PQ 17 during the Second World War.

See also

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