HMS Iris
Encyclopedia
Seven ships of the Royal Navy
have been named HMS Iris after the Greek mythological figure Iris
. An eighth was planned but renamed before entering service: was a 28-gun sixth rate, formerly the American . She was captured in 1777, but retaken by the French in 1781. She was captured again during the occupation of Toulon and burnt in the retreat. was a 32-gun fifth rate launched in 1783. She was lent to Trinity House
in 1803, and was renamed HMS Solebay in 1809. She was broken up in 1833. was a 44-gun fifth rate, formerly the Danish Marie. She was captured in 1807 and sold in 1816. was a 26-gun sixth rate launched in 1840 and sold in 1869. was an Iris-class
second class cruiser
launched in 1877 and sold in 1905. was an Acacia-class
sloop
launched in 1915 and sold in 1920. was a river ferry acquired by the Royal Navy for use in the Zeebrugge Raid
.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
have been named HMS Iris after the Greek mythological figure Iris
Iris (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Iris is the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. As the sun unites Earth and heaven, Iris links the gods to humanity...
. An eighth was planned but renamed before entering service: was a 28-gun sixth rate, formerly the American . She was captured in 1777, but retaken by the French in 1781. She was captured again during the occupation of Toulon and burnt in the retreat. was a 32-gun fifth rate launched in 1783. She was lent to Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
in 1803, and was renamed HMS Solebay in 1809. She was broken up in 1833. was a 44-gun fifth rate, formerly the Danish Marie. She was captured in 1807 and sold in 1816. was a 26-gun sixth rate launched in 1840 and sold in 1869. was an Iris-class
Iris class cruiser
The Iris class comprised two ships, and , which served with the Royal Navy. They were the Royal Navy's first all steel ships.They were designed as dispatch vessels by William White under the direction of Nathaniel Barnaby but were later re-created as Second Class Cruisers...
second class cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
launched in 1877 and sold in 1905. was an Acacia-class
Acacia class sloop
The Acacia class was a class of twenty-four sloops that were ordered in January 1915 under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
launched in 1915 and sold in 1920. was a river ferry acquired by the Royal Navy for use in the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
.
- HMS Iris was to have been a Flower-classFlower class corvetteThe Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
corvetteCorvetteA corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
. She was renamed before being launched in 1941, and was lent to the Free French Navy that year, being renamed Commandant Detroyat. She served until 1947 and was broken up in 1948.
Battle honours
The ships of this name have several battle honours:- Chesapeake 1781Battle of the ChesapeakeThe Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American War of Independence that took place near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 1781, between a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas...
- New Zealand 1860-1861New Zealand land warsThe New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872...
- Port Said 1882
- Suakin 1884SuakinSuakin or Sawakin is a port in north-eastern Sudan, on the west coast of the Red Sea. In 1983 it had a population of 18,030 and the 2009 estimate is 43, 337.It was formerly the region's chief port, but is now secondary to Port Sudan, about 30 miles north. The old city built of coral is in ruins...
- Belgian Coast 1918Hundred Days OffensiveThe Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
- Zeebruge 1918Zeebrugge RaidThe Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...