HMS Penguin

Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS "Penguin". A "penguin" is a flightless aquatic bird.

*HMS|Penguin|1757|6 was a 20-gun sixth-rate. She was originally launched in 1731 as "Dolphine", then renamed "Firebrand", and finally renamed "Penguin" in 1757. In 1760 she was captured by the French.
*HMS|Penguin|1772|6 was an 8-gun sloop building in 1772. She was not completed and was broken up in 1775.
*HMS|Penguin|1795|6 was a 16-gun sloop. She was originally Dutch and was captured in 1795 by HMS|Unicorn|1794|6 off the coast of Ireland. She was sold in 1809.
*HMS|Penguin|1813|6 was an 18-gun "Cruizer" class brig-sloop laid down in 1813. She was captured in 1815 by the American USS|Hornet|1805 brig|6 off Tristan da Cunha and foundered later in the same year.
*HMS|Penguin|1838|6 was a 6-gun packet brig laid down in 1838. In 1858 she became a coastguard watchvessel.. She was renamed "WV.31" in in 1863 and sold in 1873.
*HMS|Penguin|1860|6 was a "Philomel" class gunvessel laid down in 1860. She was sold in 1870 for scrap.
*HMS|Penguin|1876|6 was a "Osprey" class sloop launched in 1876. In 1890 she became a survey ship and in 1908 a depot ship. She was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1913 and sold in 1924. She became a crane hulk and was burnt in 1960.

In addition, two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have borne the name:
*HMAS "Penguin" was a "Challenger" class cruiser. She was originally launched as HMS "Encounter" in 1902. She was transferred to the RAN in 1919. In 1923 she became a depot ship and was renamed "Penguin". She was scuttled in 1932.
*HMAS "Penguin" was a submarine depot ship, originally launched as HMAS "Platypus" in 1916. In 1929 she was renamed "Penguin". In 1941 her name reverted to "Platypus" and she was sold for scrap in 1958.

References

*Colledge