Famous Ships and Boats

In history, movies, books, on exhibit

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

with Images and Information

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British/English Boats, Yachts, and Small Craft

(Another )

Asgard — British yacht
She is most noted for her use in the Howth gun-running of 1914. She was used for sail training by the Irish Navy in the 1960s and as the national sail training vessel from 1969 to 1974. LAUNCHED: 1905 → FATE: The restored Asgard is on permanent display in Collins Barracks, Dublin.

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Bluebird K7 — British hydroplane, jet powered
Set seven world water speed records between 1955-1964, reaching 276.3 mph or 444.7 km/h. She was developed and piloted by Donald Campbell. LAUNCHED: 1955 → FATE: Flipped and disintegrated at high speed on Coniston Water January 4, 1967, killing Donald Campbell.

Britannia, HMY — British yacht
Former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and where Prince Charles and Diana took their honeymoon. During her service as Royal Yacht conveying members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries, she steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles or 2,014,278 km. LAUNCHED: 1953, April 18 → FATE: Decommissioned December 11, 1997, now a museum ship at Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Gloriana — English royal barge, or rowbarge
The lead vessel of the flotilla celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, June 3, 2012. She is powered by 18 oarsmen, and can carry an additional 34 passengers and crew. LAUNCHED: 2012, April 18 → FATE: Still afloat.

Maggie — British Clyde puffer cargo ship
Appeared in the movie The Maggie which was released in the U.S. titled High and Dry. The story is about a clash of cultures between a hard-driving American businessman and a wily Scottish captain. LAUNCHED: 1954, movie release; boat origin unknown → FATE: Inconclusive.

MTB 102 — British motor torpedo boat
The the fastest wartime British naval vessel in service at 48 knots and the smallest vessel to ever serve as a flagship for the Royal Navy. In 1944 she carried Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower to review the fleet for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, World War II. She appeared as herself in the 2017 war film Dunkirk. LAUNCHED: 1937 → FATE: On exhibit at Lowestlft, on the North Sea.

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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.

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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.

Sundowner — British motor yacht
She participated in the Dunkirk evacuation as one of the "little ships" as well as a number of commemorations of the event. She was formerly owned by Charles Lightoller who was Second Officer aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic and survived. LAUNCHED: 1912 → FATE: A museum ship at the Ramsgate Maritime Museum in Southern England.

Victoria and Albert, HMY — British royal yacht; twin-paddle steamer
First steam powered royal yacht built in Britain. The Queen and Prince Albert loved cruising around the coast of England. The yacht was renamed Osborne after the launch of HMY Victoria and Albert II January 16, 1855. LAUNCHED: 1843, April 25 → FATE: Scrapped, 1868.

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Vital Spark — British Clyde puffer cargo ship
Star of the book series and British TV comedy series, The Vital Spark about the adventures of the boat captain and his crew. The BBC Scotland TV program The Vital Spark (1959-1974 series) was set in the western isles of Scotland in the 1930s, based on the books by Neil Munro LAUNCHED: 1931, book published; 1959 for the start of TV series; boat built in 1943 → FATE: The boat is to be restored as a tourist attraction with the Inveraray Maritime Museum.

The number of British/English Boats, Yachts, and Small Craft listed is 11

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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.	Bluebird K7 (British hydroplane)
2.	Spirit of Chartwell, MV (English hotel barge)

British/English Boats, Yachts, and Small Craft
1.	Bluebird K7 British hydroplane
2.	Britannia, HMY British yacht
3.	Gloriana English royal barge
4.	Maggie British Clyde puffer
5.	MTB 102 British motor torpedo boat
6.	Rhone, RMS British packet ship
7.	Spirit of Chartwell, MV English hotel barge
8.	Sundowner British motor yacht
9.	Victoria and Albert, HMY British royal yacht
10.	Vital Spark British Clyde puffer