Famous Ships and Boats

In history, movies, books, on exhibit

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British/English Passenger Ships and Boats

Aeolus — British cruise ship; movie set creation
A mysterious ship in the British movie Triangle. The movie scenes include the exterior of the cruise liner which the director insisted on constructing to avoid shooting everything with green screens LAUNCHED: 2009, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

Archimedes, SS — British steamship
First ship propelled by a screw drive. The advantages over side paddlewheel propulsion persuaded the Royal Navy to build the steam sloop-of-war HMS Rattler, the first British warship to adopt a screw propeller. LAUNCHED: 1839, October 18 → FATE: Sank in the Meuse River during a storm on March 1, 1864.

Atlantic, RMS — English ocean liner with sails and steam
One of the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in history killing 535 people. The greatest disaster for the White Star Line prior to the loss of Titanic 39 years later. LAUNCHED: 1871, June 18 → FATE: Ran onto rocks and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia April 1, 1873.

(Another )

Birkenhead, HMS — British frigate, steamer
The protocol "women and children first" originated on this sinking ship. Only 193 of the 643 people on board survived. Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to salvage the gold thought on board. LAUNCHED: 1845, December 18 → FATE: Struck a hidden reef and sank February 26, 1852.

(Another )

Britannic, HMHS — British ocean liner
Largest ship lost during the World War I with the loss of 30 lives. Launched just before the start of the World War I, she was put to use as a hospital ship in 1915. With her loss, SS Bismarck was given to the White Star Line as part of post-war reparations. LAUNCHED: 1914, February 18 → FATE: Struck a mine and sank off the Greek island of Kea November 21, 1916.

Carpathia — British ocean liner; (Cunard Line passenger steamship)
Became famous for rescuing survivors of RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. After sailing through dangerous ice fields, she arrived at the sinking Titanic at 4:00 am and took on 705 survivors from lifeboats. LAUNCHED: 1902, August 18 → FATE: Sunk in the Atlantic on July 17, 1918 during World War I by a German submarine, the fifth Cunard ship sunk in as many weeks.

Champion of the Seas — English clipper ship
On her maiden voyage, she set a record for the fastest run in 24 hours of 465 nautical miles or 861 km. She was the passenger ship built for the run from Liverpool, England to Melbourne, Australia. LAUNCHED: 1854, April 18 → FATE: Abandoned off Cape Horn in leaking condition in 1877.

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City of Adelaide — English clipper ship
The world's oldest surviving clipper ship. From 1864 to 1887, she played an important part in the immigration of Australia. She is now part of the National Historic Ships of the United Kingdom. LAUNCHED: 1864, May 18 → FATE: Out of service since 1948, current being restored.

City of Benares, SS — British steam passenger ship
The ship taking English evacuated children to Canada torpedoed during World War II by a German submarine. 260 of the 407 people on board were lost including 77 children. The sinking reportedly inspired actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr to develop and patent a system of spread spectrum radio as a means to guide anti-ship torpedoes. LAUNCHED: 1935, August 5 → FATE: Sunk September 18, 1940.

Comet, PS — British paddle steamer
First commercially successful steamboat service in Europe on the River Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock in Scotland. The success of this passenger service quickly inspired competition and the Comet was soon outclassed by newer steamers. LAUNCHED: 1812, August 18 → FATE: Wrecked in strong currents at Craignish Point near Oban on December 13, 1820.

(Another )

Cutty Sark — English clipper ship
Lost China-to-London race to ship called Thermopylae. She is one of three remaining original composite construction (wooden hull on an iron frame) clipper ships from the nineteenth century. LAUNCHED: 1869, November 18 → FATE: Now preserved in dry dock in Greenwich, England.

Driver, HMS — British side-wheeler paddle sloop
First steamship to circumnavigation the globe. She was the first steamship to visit New Zealand, arriving January 1846, and was involved in the New Zealand Wars. LAUNCHED: 1840, December 18 → FATE: Wrecked on Mayaguana Island on August 3,1861.

Goliath, RMS — British ocean liner
Fiction ocean liner in the movie Goliath Awaits. The interiors of Goliath were filmed aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. LAUNCHED: 1981, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

(Another )

Great Britain, SS — British steamship, passenger ship
First steamer to cross the Atlantic. Also first built of iron and with a screw propeller. She ran aground in 1846 and was sold for salvage, repaired and revised. In 1881 she was converted to sail. In 1937 she was retired and scuttled. In 1970 she was recovered and eventually restored as a museum ship. LAUNCHED: 1845, July 18 → FATE: Now a museum ship in Bristol Harbour.

(Another )

Great Eastern, SS — British iron paddle steamboat, side-wheeler with sails
The world's largest steamship; successfully laid cable across the Atlantic Ocean. She completed 45 crossings in eight years; then she was used for carrying mail, then troops. LAUNCHED: 1858, January 18 → FATE: Broken up for scrap at Rock Ferry on the River Mersey in 1889.

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Great Western, SS — British paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
First paddle ship built for crossing the Atlantic; completed the crossing in April of 1838. In later years, she was used as a showboat, a floating palace/concert hall and gymnasium. LAUNCHED: 1837, July 18 → FATE: Taken out of service December of 1846, she was broken up in 1856.

Laconia, RMS — British ocean liner, then converted to a troop ship
After a torpedo attack, a dramatic rescue of the ship's passengers turned to disaster and became known as the Laconia incident. U.S. planes attacked the several German U-boats trying to rescue its 2,732 passengers and crew most of whom were abandoned by the subs, resulting in a loss of over 1,649 people. The sinking was portrayed in the 2011 British TV movie. LAUNCHED: 1921, April 18 → FATE: Sunk by German submarine U-156 off the coast of West Africa, September 12, 1942.

Lancastria, RMS — British ocean liner
Worst single loss of life in British maritime history and the bloodiest single engagement for UK forces in World War II. Over 4000 people were lost while evacuating British nationals and troops from France. LAUNCHED: 1922, June → FATE: Sunk off the French port of St. Nazaireon June 17, 1940.

(Another )

Lusitania, RMS — British ocean liner
Torpedoed by German submarine U-20, killing 1,198 people. Her sinking during transatlantic passage turned public opinion against Germany in World War I. LAUNCHED: 1906, June 18 → FATE: Sank 70 kms from the Old Head of Kinsale May 7, 1915.

Maryland Dove — American merchant vessel
Replica of the Dove, one of two early 17th-century English ship that, in 1634, brought the first settlers to what is now Maryland. The original Dove was the smaller of the two ship, used in shallow waterways along the coast. The accompanied ship with 140 passengers was the Ark. LAUNCHED: 1978, August 18 → FATE: On exhibit at Historic St. Mary's City and occasionally other ports.

Mauretania, RMS — British ocean liner
At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. She made an eastbound transatlantic crossing with a long-standing record average speed of 23.7 knots. She served as a hospital ship and troop ship in World War I. LAUNCHED: 1906, September 18 → FATE: Scrapped in 1934.

Mayflower — English galleon
Transported the English Pilgrims from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The ocean crossing took 66 days. A second ship called the Mayflower made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony in 1629. LAUNCHED: 1607, about → FATE: Sold and taken apart in May of 1624.

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.

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(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.

(Another )

Queen Elizabeth, RMS — British ocean liner
With sister ship Queen Mary, dominated the transatlantic passenger service. She was used in World War II as troop transport. After being converted to a university and renamed Seawise University, she was destroyed by fire. The charred wreck was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. LAUNCHED: 1938, September 18 → FATE: After a fire, capsized in Hong Kong Harbor, January 9, 1972.

Queen Mary, RMS — British ocean liner
Once dominated transatlantic passenger service with sister ship Queen Elizabeth. She was used in World War II as troop transport carrying up to 15,000 passengers at a time. Featured in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure and the 1981 movie Goliath Awaits. LAUNCHED: 1934, Septmber 26 → FATE: After sailing nearly 4 million miles, she was retired in 1967 and berthed in Long Beach, California as a museum ship and hotel from 1974 to present.

(Another )

Rhone, RMS — British packet ship
Sunk during a hurricane with the loss of approximately 123 lives. The wreckage is now a popular diving site and was used in the 1977 film The Deep that featured Jacqueline Bisset in a wet T‑shirt. LAUNCHED: 1865 → FATE: Wrecked in the British Virgin Islands on October 29, 1867.

Sea Venture — English merchant ship; purpose-built
First dedicated emigration ship as part of the Third Supply mission to the Jamestown Colony. During the storm, massive leaks developed because of faulty construction. All 150 people aboard and one dog made it to shore safely. LAUNCHED: 1609 → FATE: Damaged in a hurricane and scuttled at Discovery Bay, June 1609.

SN.R4 — British Mountbatten class hovercraft
Was the largest civil hovercraft ever built, carrying 254 passengers and up to 30 cars. She is the only surviving hovercraft that served English Channel traffic from 1968 to 2000. The others, Sir Christopher, Sure, Swift, Princess Margaret, and The Prince of Wales, were all scrapped. LAUNCHED: 1968 → FATE: Preserved and on static display at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent, England.

(Another )

Spirit of Chartwell, MV — English hotel barge
The Royal Barge used for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, June 3, 2012. She originally sailed the Rhine River as the Van Gogh, designed to sail the waterways of Europe and venture into coastal waters. She was refitted in for the 2011 jubilee. LAUNCHED: 2009 → FATE: Still afloat.

(Another )

Star Princess — Italian cruise ship; American-British owned
Fire amidship produced smoke, killing one passenger and injuring 13 others. With the fire initiated, highly combustible polycarbonate partitions, polyurethane deck tiles, and the plastic furniture produced large amounts of thick black smoke. LAUNCHED: 2001, May 18 → FATE: Damage repaired and still in service.

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Susan Constant — British fully-rigged ship
The largest of three ships of the English Virginia Company sailing to establish the new Colony of Virginia, Jamestown. Replicas of Susan Constant, shown in image, and her sister-ships are docked in the James River at Jamestown Settlement. LAUNCHED: 1607 → FATE: After 1615, fate unknown.

Thermopylae — English extreme clipper
Raced the clipper Cutty Sark from Shanghai back to London and won by seven days. In 1897, she was sold to Portugal and renamed Pedro Nunes for used as a naval training ship. LAUNCHED: 1868, August → FATE: Sunk as target practice by the Portuguese Navy, October 13, 1907.

(Another )

Titanic, RMS — British luxury ocean liner
The most famous ship sinking in history, she sank after hitting iceberg in the Atlantic, claiming over 1500 lives. Believed by many to be unsinkable, her disintegrating remains lie at a depth of 3,784 meters. Many movie have been made about her sinking including the 1997 film. LAUNCHED: 1911, May 18 → FATE: Sank in the North Atlantic April 15, 1912.

Trent, RMS — British paddle steamer serving as a packet boat
Principle ship in the Trent affair in 1861 during the American Civil War. Her interception by USS San Jacinto and unlawfully capture of two Confederate diplomats almost led to war between the Britian and the United States. LAUNCHED: 1841 → FATE: Sold and broken up after 1865.

Umbria, RMS — British ocean liner
With her sister ship, Etruria, the last two transatlantic ocean liners fitted with auxiliary sails. In May of 1903, the Mafia tried to blow her up but failed. LAUNCHED: 1884, June 18 → FATE: Scrapped in 1910.

Vestris, SS — British passenger steamship
The ship sank taking more passengers to their death than crew. 60 of 128 passengers survived, 155 of 198 crew survived. None of 13 children and only 8 of 33 women survived. LAUNCHED: 1912, May → FATE: Sank November 12, 1928.

The number of British/English Passenger Ships and Boats listed is 37

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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.	Archimedes, SS (British steamship)
2.	City of Adelaide (English clipper ship)
3.	Great Western, SS (British paddle steamboat)
4.	Princess Alice (British paddle steamer)
5.	Susan Constant (British fully-rigged ship)

British/English Passenger Ships and Boats
1.	Archimedes, SS British steamship
2.	Atlantic, RMS English ocean liner
3.	Birkenhead, HMS British frigate
4.	Britannic, HMHS British ocean liner
5.	Carpathia British ocean liner
6.	Champion of the Seas English clipper ship
7.	City of Adelaide English clipper ship
8.	City of Benares, SS British steam passenger ship
9.	Comet, PS British paddle steamer
10.	Cutty Sark English clipper ship
11.	Driver, HMS British paddle sloop
12.	Goliath, RMS British ocean liner
13.	Great Britain, SS British steamship
14.	Great Eastern, SS British iron paddle steamboat
15.	Great Western, SS British paddle steamboat
16.	Laconia, RMS British ocean liner
17.	Lancastria, RMS British ocean liner
18.	Lusitania, RMS British ocean liner
19.	Maryland Dove American merchant vessel
20.	Mauretania, RMS British ocean liner
21.	Mayflower English galleon
22.	Orion, RMS British ocean liner
23.	Princess Alice British paddle steamer
24.	Queen Elizabeth, RMS British ocean liner
25.	Queen Mary, RMS British ocean liner
26.	Rhone, RMS British packet ship
27.	Sea Venture English merchant ship
28.	SN.R4 British Mountbatten class hovercraft
29.	Spirit of Chartwell, MV English hotel barge
30.	Star Princess Italian cruise ship
31.	Susan Constant British fully-rigged ship
32.	Thermopylae English extreme clipper
33.	Titanic, RMS British luxury ocean liner
34.	Trent, RMS British paddle steamer
35.	Umbria, RMS British ocean liner
36.	Vestris, SS British passenger steamship