HMS Phaeton

Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Phaeton or Phaëton after Phaëton, the son of Helios in Greek mythology:

• HMS Phaeton (1691), a purpose-built fireship launched in 1691, was expended against the French Navy at La Hogue in 1692.
• HMS Phaeton (1739), also a fireship, formerly a merchantman purchased in 1739, served as an escort during the War of Austrian Succession.
• HMS Phaeton (1782), a frigate launched in 1782 which served during the Napoleonic Wars, created an incident in Nagasaki harbour, Japan, in 1808.
• HMS Phaeton (1848), a 32-pounder armed sailing frigate launched in 1848, was converted in 1859 to screw propulsion.
• HMS Phaeton (1883), launched 1883, was a Leander-class protected cruiser.
• HMS Phaeton (1914), launched 1914, was an Arethusa-class light cruiser. She served in World War I.
• HMS Phaeton, launched 1934, was a Leander-class light cruiser transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and renamed HMAS Sydney. She was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran in World War II.

List of ships with the same or similar names

This article includes a list of ships with the same or similar names. If an internal link for a specific ship led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended ship article, if one exists.