HMS Lion

HMS Lion

Several Royal Navy ships have been called HMS Lion. As well as being traditionally associated with courage, the lion was used in several heraldric motifs representing England and the British Monarchy.

One HMS Lion, (80) was used as a training ship from 1871 until she was scapped in 1905.

A later HMS Lion was a battlecruiser, and Rear Admiral David Beatty's flagship at the battles of Dogger Bank and Jutland.

Another HMS Lion was the name ship of a class of four battleships. Only two of the ships were started and neither was completed - Lion herself being scrapped whilst under construction in 1941.

The most recent HMS Lion was a cruiser launched in 1944 (as HMS Defence) but not completed until 1960. She was placed in reserve in 1964 and scrapped in 1975.