HMS Bellona

Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Bellona.

• The first Bellona was the French privateer Bellone, captured in 1747, made into a 30-gun 6th rate, and sold in 1749.

• The second Bellona was a 74-gun third-rate in use from 1760 to 1814.

• The third Bellona was a 3-gun vessel purchased in 1794 and broken up in 1805.

• The fourth Bellona was the French 28-gun 6th rate Bellone captured in 1806, renamed Blanche in 1809, and broken up 1814.

• The fifth Bellona was a third-class cruiser launched in 1890 and commissioned in August 1894, serving in the Channel Squadron until she was sold in 1906.

• The sixth Bellona was a scout cruiser in service from 1909 to 1921.

• The seventh Bellona was a cruiser launched in 1942, on loan to the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1948 to 1956, and broken up 1959.

Reference

• J. J. Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy