HMS Hydra explained

Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Hydra, after the Lernaean Hydra of Greek mythology:

• was a 24-gun sixth rate launched in 1778 and sold in 1783.
• was a 38-gun fifth rate launched in 1797. She was used as a troopship from 1812 and was sold in 1820.
• was a wooden steam paddle sloop launched in 1838, used as a survey vessel after 1852, paid off in 1868 and sold in 1870.
• was a turret ship launched in 1871 and sold in 1903.
• was an launched in 1912 and sold in 1921.
• was an launched in 1942. She was damaged by a mine in 1944 and not repaired. She was scrapped in 1945.
• was an oceanographic survey vessel launched in 1965, sold to Indonesia in 1986 and renamed Dewa Kembar.

Battle honours

• Syria 1840
• Dogger Bank 1915
• Jutland 1916
• North Sea 1943
• Arctic 1943-44
• Normandy 1944
• South Atlantic 1982