Famous Ships and Boats

In history, movies, books, on exhibit

War ships, ship tragedies, steam ships, yachts, and more

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All Countries Ships and Boats N‑P

Napoléon, (Le) — French battleship, ship of the line
First true steam and screw battleship in the world. She was the lead ship of a class of 9 battleships, all considered as very successful and built over a period of 10 years. LAUNCHED: 1850, May 18 → FATE: Sunk November 6, 1876.

Nathan James, USS — American guided missile destroyer
Fictional ship in the movie The Last Ship. She was portrayed by USS Halsey. LAUNCHED: 2014, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

Nautilus, USS — American nuclear submarine
World's first nuclear-powered submarine. She was the first vessel to cross under the North Pole. Also the namesake of another U.S. submarine that served in World War II. LAUNCHED: 1954, January 18 → FATE: On exhibit at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

Nemesis — British steam and sail powered warship
The first British ocean-going iron warship; also the first iron ship to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. She was greatly effective in the First Opium War. The Chinese referred to her as the "devil ship". LAUNCHED: 1839 → FATE: Ended up in Calcutta, 1855.

New Jersey, USS — American battleship
Earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other American battleship. She was the only U.S. battleship to provide gunfire support during the Vietnam War. LAUNCHED: 1942, December → FATE: In a museum at the Camden Waterfront, Camden, New Jersey.

Niantic — American whaling ship
Brought fortune-seekers to Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) during the California Gold Rush of 1849. She was a prominent landmark in the booming city for several years. The site of Niantic beside the Transamerica Pyramid is now a California Historical Landmark. LAUNCHED: 1832 → FATE: Converted to hotel in 1849, destroyed by fire 1852.

Nimitz, USS — American aircraft carrier; supercarrier
Setting for the 1980 science fiction movie The Final Countdown. In May of 1981, one of her planes crashed on the flight deck, killing 14 crewmen. LAUNCHED: 1972, May → FATE: Still in service.

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Nina, (La) — Spanish four masted caravel
The smallest of Columbus' ships of discovery. She became Columbus' flag ship back to Spain after the loss of Santa Maria. LAUNCHED: 1492 → FATE: Last heard of in 1501; fate unknown.

Ning Po — Chinese 3-masted, 291 ton junk
Spent 159 years in the Yellow Sea engaging in crimes such as smuggling, slave trading, mutiny, and piracy. During the 1920s and 1930s she sat in Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, California and was used as a backdrop for movies filmed there. LAUNCHED: 1753 → FATE: Burned in Catalina Harbor in 1938.

Noah's Ark — Ancient cargo ship andferry
Legendary vessel that carried Noah's family and animal pairs during a torrential rain storm. Information about the ship is found in the Bible as well as the Koran. LAUNCHED: 2400, about → FATE: Unknown.

Norge, SS — Norwegian, then Danish ocean liner
The biggest civilian maritime disaster in the Atlantic in the until the sinking of the Titanic. More than 635 people died during the sinking, among them 225 Norwegians. The disaster remains the worst in Danish maritime history. LAUNCHED: 1881, June 18 → FATE: Ran aground and sank June 28, 1904.

(Another )

Normac, MS — American fire tug, later a ferry
Used as Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant, a floating restaurant in Toronto Harbour, from 1969-1981. She sank after being severely damaged when the ferry Trillium struck her in 1981. She was raised in 1986 and again refurbished as a restaurant as seen in "Another IMAGE". LAUNCHED: 1902 → FATE: Currently a floating restaurant in Toronto, Ontario.

(Another )

Norman Atlantic, MS — Italian roll-on/roll-off car ferry
At least thirty people died when she caught fire in the Strait of Otranto, in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued, most in nighttime helicopter sorties despite high winds and seas. LAUNCHED: 2009, November, 2 → FATE: Scrapped.

(Another )

Normandie, SS — French ocean liner
Largest, fastest and most powerful passenger ship ever built. Considered one of the greatest ocean liners in history, her Art Deco motif was so splendid she was known as the "Ship of Light" just as Paris was the "City of Light". LAUNCHED: 1935, October 29 → FATE: Caught fire and capsized in February 1942; scrapped October, 1946.

Nuestra Señora de las Mer — Spanish frigate
Thought to be the wreck discovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration. Returning to Spain from South America with tons of gold, silver and jewels, she was blown up by the British off Cabo de Santa Maria, Portugal. LAUNCHED: 1786 → FATE: Sunk by the British on October 5, 1804.

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Numancia — Spanish broadside ironclad
First ironclad to circumnavigate the Earth. She was built as an armored frigate in France and sold to the Spanish in 1865. LAUNCHED: 1863, November 18 → FATE: Sank while under tow December 17, 1916.

Ocean Dover, MV — Australian livestock carrier
The largest livestock carrier in the world designed and built with special livestock support systems. She is capable of carrying 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle across oceans. In 2014, a fire broke out in the crew quarters, but was contained. LAUNCHED: 2002 → FATE: Still in service.

Oceanos, MTS — Greek cruise ship
Realizing the ship was doomed, the crew fled in panic, neglecting their duties and the passengers. All 571 people on board were saved following one of the most dramatic and successful rescue operations of its kind. LAUNCHED: 1952, July → FATE: Sank off South Africa's eastern coast on August 4, 1991.

Octavius — English schooner, three-masted
An legendary 18th century ghost ship said to have been found west of Greenland by the whaler Herald in 1775. The derelict was found and boarded. The entire crew of 28 were found below deck frozen. LAUNCHED: 1761 → FATE: Apparently lost in 1762.

Olympia, USS — American protected cruiser
Famous as the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila. She is the sole floating survivor of the US Navy's Spanish American War fleet. LAUNCHED: 1892, November 18 → FATE: Restored as a museum ship at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.

Olympias — Greek trireme
The only commissioned replica trireme in the world. She achieved a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h) and was able to turn 180 degree within one minute. LAUNCHED: 1987, August → FATE: On exhibit in a dry dock at the Naval Tradition Park in Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece.

Oneida — American yacht
W.R. Hearst's boat and site of the mysterious death of an American film producer that became a scandal and part of early Hollywood lore. The 2001 movie The Cat's Meow dramatized the fateful events on the yacht. LAUNCHED: 1897 → FATE: Sold as scrap August 21, 1940.

Onrust — Dutch yacht
First ship built to reach what is now New York State, and the first fur trading vessel built in America. The ship was the first to explore much of the eastern seaboard around New England. LAUNCHED: 1614, replica launched May 20, 2009 → FATE: Original ship, unknown; replica on display at Connecticut River Museum.

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Orient — French ship of the line
Famous for her role as flagship of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile, 1798. During the battle, she caught fire and exploded, with an estimated loss of over 1,130 men; 760 are said to have survived. LAUNCHED: 1791, July 20 → FATE: She was destroyed by an explosion, August 1798.

Orion, RMS — British ocean liner
First to offer modern passenger comforts in ocean travel including air conditioning.. She was launched at England from Brisbane, Australia by wireless remote by the Duke of Gloucester. She served as a troop ship in World War II, then converted to a passenger liner in 1946. LAUNCHED: 1934, December 18 → FATE: Broken for scrap at Antwerp, Belgium in 1963.

(Another )

Oriskany, USS — American aircraft carrier, Essex class
The world's largest, and the U.S.'s first, artificial reef. She had multiple reconfigurations and updates. In 1966, a flare accidentally ignited on the hangar bay causing a catastrophic fire killing 44 crewmen. LAUNCHED: 1945, October 18 → FATE: Sunk as an artifical reef May 17, 2006.

Ostfriesland, SMS — German battleship, ceded to America after World War II
Sunk by bombs dropped from aircraft by General Billy Mitchell to demonstrate air power. After having seen action in World War I, the ship was ceded to the United States as war reparations. LAUNCHED: 1909, Septmber 30 → FATE: Sunk by bombs off Cape Hatteras July 21, 1921.

Ourang Medan, SS — Dutch cargo ship
Purported ghost ship in Indonesian waters after her crew had died under suspicious circumstances. No registration records for a ship by the name of Ourang Medan could be located in various countries. LAUNCHED: 1945, first referenced → FATE: Supposedly exploded and sank June, 1947.

Pacific Princess — American cruise ship
The ship featured in the TV series Love Boat from 1977 to 1986. In 1998 the Pacific Princess was impounded by police in Piraeus, Greece after 25 kg of heroin was found on board. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Sold to be scrapped in March of 2012.

Pamir — German barque, four-masted steel-hulled windjammer
Last commercial sailing ship to round Cape Horn in 1949. Over her life at various times, she flew under the flags of Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Finland. LAUNCHED: 1905, July → FATE: Caught in Hurricane Carrie and sank off the Azores, September 21, 1957.

Panay, USS — American river gunboat
The USS Panay incident; on December 12, 1937, a Japanese bombing attack on this U.S. Navy river gunboat and three Standard Oil Company tankers on the Yangtze River. Two newsreel cameramen were present on Panay and filmed much of the attack and afterward from shore as Panay sank. See Newsreel. LAUNCHED: 1927, November 10 → FATE: Sunk in December 12, 1937.

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Patrick Henry, SS — American liberty ship; cargo ship
First of 2751 liberty ships built during World War II. Liberty ships were built in a mass production method, each typically in 70 days or less. SS Patrick Henry made 12 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. LAUNCHED: 1941, September 18 → FATE: Went aground off the coast of Florida July of 1946, scrapped in 1960.

Pequod — American whaling ship
Fictitious 19th-century Nantucket whaling ship in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville and in several movies. In the novel, the ship's captain is the one-legged, monomaniacal Ahab. LAUNCHED: 1840, or earlier → FATE: Destroyed by a whale supposedly in 1851.

(Another )

Peral — Spanish submarine
The first fully capable military submarine and the first electric battery-powered submarine. She was also the fastest at the time. Since she lacked a means of charging batteries while underway, such as an internal combustion engine, she had very limited endurance and range. LAUNCHED: 1889 → FATE: Withdrawn from service in 1890 and is now preserved at the Cartagena Naval Museum.

Perserverance — American steam boat
First steam boat that operated using a series of vertical paddles. Invented by John Fitch, an improved model carried passengers on round-trips between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey, summer of 1790. LAUNCHED: 1787 → FATE: Unknown.

Pewabic, SS — American lake steamship; cargo ship
Worst shipwreck on the Great Lakes with the loss of an estimated 125 lives, hundreds of tons of copper, silver, and iron ore. Over the years five divers died attempting to salvage the cargo. Some of the copper was recovered during World War I, the rest in 1974. LAUNCHED: 1863 → FATE: Collided with SS Meteor in Michigan's Thunder Bay and sank August 9, 1865.

Pilar — American fishing boat
Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat. Pilar was a nickname for the American novelist's second wife, Pauline, and the heroine in For Whom the Bell Tolls. LAUNCHED: 1934, April → FATE: On display at Hemingway's former home, Finca Vigía, near Havana, Cuba.

Pilot — Russian icebreaker
World's first steam-powered and metal-ship icebreaker. Originally been built as a steam-powered propeller tug. LAUNCHED: 1864 → FATE: Unknown.

Pinta, (La) — Spanish three masted caravel
One of Columbus' ships of discovery. The fastest of Columbus' three ships to America in 1492, and Columbus' flag ship on the return trip to Spain in 1943. She was among the fleet of 17 ships for Columbus' second voyage. LAUNCHED: 1441, circa → FATE: Around 1501.

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Pioneering Spirit — Swiss catamaran construction ship, Korean built
The world's largest ocean vessel, designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms. Displacing 1 million tons, the vessel operates as a semi-submersible. Using ballasts, she is able to lower herself when installing payload or raise herself when removing payload. LAUNCHED: 2013, January 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Ponce, USS — American amphibious assault ship
First "Afloat Forward Staging Base" (AFSB) ship. She was refitted in 2012 to serve as floating port for helicopters and patrol craft. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Portland, PS — American sidewheel steamer
Known as the "Titanic of New England" and considered New England's worst maritime disaster, she went down with an estimated 192-245 passengers and crew. The storm that sank her, killed more than 400 persons and sank more than 150 other boats and ships. LAUNCHED: 1889 → FATE: Sank in the Portland Gale off of Cape Ann November 27, 1898.

Poseidon, SS — American cruise ship; British ocean liner
Subject of a ship sinking in the 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure and four movie adaptations, 1972, 1979, 2005, and 2006. In each version of the story, the ship is capsized and several survivors try to make their way to the top of the overturned ship. LAUNCHED: 1969, original story → FATE: Inconclusive.

Potemkin — Russian battleship
A rebellion of the crew against their cruel officers in 1905 signaled the coming of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Following the mutiny, now called Panteleimon, she accidentally sank a Russian submarine in 1909 and was badly damaged when she ran aground in 1911. LAUNCHED: 1904 → FATE: Scuttled by interventionists at Sevastopol April of 1919.

President — American steamboat
The last original "Western Rivers" style side-wheel river excursion steamboat in the United States and the second riverboat casino in modern times. In the 1950s and 1960s, she berthed in New Orleans for many years as a popular music venue featuring concerts by national acts; in 1990 she was converted into a floating casino. LAUNCHED: 1924 → FATE: In 2007 she was disassembled and moved in pieces to St. Elmo, Illinois where she may be re-assembled as a non-floating tourist attraction and hotel.

President, SS — British paddle steamship, with sails; ocean-going
First steamship lost at sea on a transatlantic run, taking with her all 136 on board. Constructed with a third deck on top of the hull and designed with luxurious staterooms, she was top heavy and rolled excessively. LAUNCHED: 1840, August → FATE: Lost during a gale off Nantucket Shoals March of 1841.

Preußen — German windjammer, five-masted
The largest sailed ship ever built and the only five-masted, full-rigged, ship built until the 21st century. She was built entirely of steel. She was used in the saltpeter trade with Chile, setting speed records in the process. LAUNCHED: 1902, May 18 → FATE: Swept onto rocks and sank near the White Cliffs of Dover November 6, 1910.

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Prince of Wales, HMS — British battleship
She and Repulse were the first capital ships to be sunk solely by naval air power on the open sea. She was involved in several key actions of the World War II, including the Battle of the Denmark Strait against the German battleship Bismarck. LAUNCHED: 1939, May 18 → FATE: Sunk on December 10, 1941 by Japanese air attack off Kuantan, South China Sea.

(Another )

Princess Alice — British paddle steamer
The greatest loss of life, 600-700, of any British inland waterway shipping accident after being struck by the Bywell Castle. Because of the river pollution from the sewage and local industrial output, the recovered bodies were covered with slime and toxins. LAUNCHED: 1865, July → FATE: Sank on September 3, 1878 after the collision on the River Thames.

Princess Mafalda, SS — Italian ocean liner
Her sinking and the loss of 314 people was the greatest loss of life in Italian shipping and the largest ever in the in the Southern Hemisphere in peacetime. At the time, she was the largest Italian passenger ship afloat and known for her luxury. LAUNCHED: 1908, October 18 → FATE: Sank of the coast of Brazil October 9, 1927.

Princess Sophia, SS — Canadian passenger ship
The worst maritime accident in the history of British Columbia and Alaska. The wreck and the loss of 343 people was controversial since some thought that all aboard could have been saved. LAUNCHED: 1911, November 18 → FATE: Grounded on October 24,1918 and sank following day during a storm near Juneau Alaska.

(Another )

Principessa Jolanda, SS — Italian ocean liner
She was to be among the first transatlantic vessels with Marconi telegraphy, electric lighting and telephones. She never sailed, but capsized during initial launch and sank. LAUNCHED: 1907, September 18 → FATE: Sank September 22, 1907.

Prineton, USS — American screw steam warship
First ship with screw propellers powered by an engine mounted entirely below the waterline. In 1844, during a pleasure cruise for dignitaries, a gun exploded killing 6 high-ranking federal officials and wounding 20 more, the worst such tragedy in American history. LAUNCHED: 1843, September 5 → FATE: Broken up at the Boston Navy Yard, October 1849.

(Another )

Prins Willem replica — Dutch brig; replica of a full-rigged ship
This replica of a ship built in 1649 and sunk in 1662 was lost in fire on the morning of 30 July 2009(See alternate image). In 2004, the replica became part of the theme park Cape Holland in Den Helder, the Netherlands. LAUNCHED: 1985 → FATE: Burned and sank at Den Helder, Netherlands July 30, 2009.

Prinz Eugen — German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser
After World war II ended, the US Navy assigned her to the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. During the Battle of Denmark Strait (May 24, 1941), she and Bismarck engaged and sank the British ships HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales. LAUNCHED: 1938, August 22 → FATE: Having survived the atomic blasts, she was towed to Kwajalein Atoll, where she ultimately capsized and sank in December 1946.

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Prinzessin Victoria Luise — German passenger ship
First purpose-built cruise ship. Not only did she look more like a private yacht, she had 120 first class cabins, a library, gymnasium, and darkroom. LAUNCHED: 1900, June 18 → FATE: Declared a loss December 19, 1906 after running onto rocks at Kingston.

Proteus — American catamaran
First vessel of the wave adaptive modular vessel-type. Developed by Marine Advanced Research, she has been nicknamed "The Spider Ship" because four legs connect the superstructure to the outriggers. LAUNCHED: 2007 → FATE: In active service.

PT 109 — American motor torpedo boat
Commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy. The movie of the incident PT 109 was made with President Kennedy's approval provided the events be historically accurate, and the profits go to the survivors of PT 109 and their families. LAUNCHED: 1942, June 18 → FATE: Rammed and sunk in the Solomon Islands by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri on a moonless night, August 2, 1943 during World War II.

PT-73 — American PT boat
Patrol boat in the TV sitcom McHale's Navy. The real-life PT-73 was built on August 12, 1942, and was destroyed by the crew in January, 1945. LAUNCHED: 1962, 1966 for the TV series → FATE: Inconlusive.

The number of All Countries Ships and Boats N‑P listed is 59

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For a full list of all ships, select HERE

First Ship on each page
Page	Ship Name (Country and Type)
1.	Nathan James, USS (American guided missile destroyer)
2.	Nina, (La) (Spanish caravel)
3.	Numancia (Spanish broadside ironclad)
4.	Orient (French ship of the line)
5.	Patrick Henry, SS (American liberty ship)
6.	Pioneering Spirit (Swiss catamaran)
7.	Prince of Wales, HMS (British battleship)
8.	Prinzessin Victoria Luise (German passenger ship)

All Countries Ships and Boats N‑P
1.	Nathan James, USS American guided missile destroyer
2.	Nautilus, USS American nuclear submarine
3.	Nemesis British steam and sail powered warship
4.	New Jersey, USS American battleship
5.	Niantic American whaling ship
6.	Nimitz, USS American aircraft carrier
7.	Nina, (La) Spanish caravel
8.	Ning Po Chinese junk
9.	Noah's Ark Ancient ferry
10.	Norge, SS Norwegian, then Danish ocean liner
11.	Normac, MS American ferry
12.	Norman Atlantic, MS Italian roll-on/roll-off car ferry
13.	Normandie, SS French ocean liner
14.	Nuestra Señora de las Mer Spanish frigate
15.	Numancia Spanish broadside ironclad
16.	Ocean Dover, MV Australian livestock carrier
17.	Oceanos, MTS Greek cruise ship
18.	Octavius English schooner
19.	Olympia, USS American protected cruiser
20.	Olympias Greek trireme
21.	Oneida American yacht
22.	Onrust Dutch yacht
23.	Orient French ship of the line
24.	Orion, RMS British ocean liner
25.	Oriskany, USS American aircraft carrier
26.	Ostfriesland, SMS German battleship
27.	Ourang Medan, SS Dutch cargo ship
28.	Pacific Princess American cruise ship
29.	Pamir German barque
30.	Panay, USS American river gunboat
31.	Patrick Henry, SS American liberty ship
32.	Pequod American whaling ship
33.	Peral Spanish submarine
34.	Perserverance American steam boat
35.	Pewabic, SS American lake steamship
36.	Pilar American fishing boat
37.	Pilot Russian icebreaker
38.	Pinta, (La) Spanish three masted caravel
39.	Pioneering Spirit Swiss catamaran
40.	Ponce, USS American amphibious assault ship
41.	Portland, PS American sidewheel steamer
42.	Poseidon, SS American cruise ship
43.	Potemkin Russian battleship
44.	President American steamboat
45.	President, SS British paddle steamship
46.	Preußen German windjammer
47.	Prince of Wales, HMS British battleship
48.	Princess Alice British paddle steamer
49.	Princess Mafalda, SS Italian ocean liner
50.	Princess Sophia, SS Canadian passenger ship
51.	Principessa Jolanda, SS Italian ocean liner
52.	Prineton, USS American screw steam warship
53.	Prins Willem replica Dutch brig
54.	Prinz Eugen German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser
55.	Prinzessin Victoria Luise German passenger ship
56.	Proteus American catamaran
57.	PT 109 American motor torpedo boat
58.	PT-73 American PT boat