# Favourite warship name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218 "2009-09-23T12:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/61 "2009-09-24T04:21:08Z")
[HMS Battleaxe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Battleaxe_%28F89%29) as Tom Clancy said, at least we don’t name our warships after our mothers-in-law ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/62 "2009-09-24T04:24:31Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > In a recent GQ I had occasion to remark on **Eugene of Savoy** , who managed to inspire warships for at least four different countries: > > The Austrian battleship [_Prinz Eugen_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Prinz_Eugen). > > The British monitor [_Prince Eugene_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_Eugene). > > The German heavy cruiser [_Prinz Eugen_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Prinz_Eugen). > > The Italian light cruiser [_Eugenio di Savoia_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Eugenio_di_Savoia). > > I find the above highly amusing for some reason :p. And like I said then, I’m surprised we don’t have a French version, seeing as how he was also raised in France for his first twenty years. There is a fifth country. The German heavy cruiser was turned over to the US and commisioned as the USS PRINZ EUGEN. The ship was sent to the Pacific and used in the atom bomb tests. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/63 "2009-09-24T04:36:04Z")
Not a warship, but favorite real ship name: RMS Gigantic (original name of Britannic, renamed after sinking of Titanic) Fictional: GSS Suicidal Insanity ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/64 "2009-09-24T07:05:20Z")
Just to clarify the motto “Fear God and Dread Nought”. "Fisher struggled in choosing a motto. He considered “Dreadnought” but considered it too arrogant and egotistical… he considered a paraphrase of Psalm 34: 9 (O fear the Lord ye his saints for there is no want to them who fear him) and Dreadnought as “Dread Nought” is mentioned over 80 times in the Bible. Thus he came up with “Fear God and Dread Nought”. (Cite- “Dreadnought” by Robert Massie page 541 - and an 1865 Bible) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/65 "2009-09-24T07:12:48Z")
HMAS Stalwart A no-nonsense kind of name. > [@kirk1168](#): > > but HMS Indomitable is a close second. Agreed ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/66 "2009-09-24T09:33:32Z")
Another vote for _HMS Warspite_. Points for a battleship which sounds permanently pissed off. I’ve also had an affinity for the [Battlecruiser Scharnhorst](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_battlecruiser_Scharnhorst). Surprised that the above poster missed the WW2 [Eugen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Prinz_Eugen), by the way. She sailed with the Bismarck. ---
**Author:** ![Aquila\_Be](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Aquila\_Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquila_Be)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/67 "2009-09-24T10:01:45Z")
I’m not sure if this really qualifies, and it’s not actually a list of favourites, but here’s a list of fictitious space ships I wrote down as I struggled painfully through my first (and definitely final) Ian M. Banks work, that abortion of a novel: _Excession_. Sleeper Service (Previously ‘Quietly Confident’) Peace Makes Plenty Death and Gravity Problem Child Meatfucker Fate Amenable to Change Ethics Gradient Sac Slicer II Fright Spear Kiss the Blade Anticipation of a New Lover’s Arrival Tactical Grace Woetra Steely Glint Serious Callers Only Wisdom Likes Silence Shoot Them Later Limivorous Not Invented Here Full Refund Different Tan Star Turn End In Tears No Fixed Abode Break Even FWIW it seemed to me that the author was mocking the reader with his choice of names rather than being cute and entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/68 "2009-09-24T10:20:54Z")
I think that HMS _Thor_ is a good name for a warship, though I doubt that The Thunderer would have been pleased to be named for an ambush hunter. HMS _Erebus_ and HMS _Terror_ are also good names. And so terribly appropriate for the fates of the Franklin Expedition they were lost with. I miss the old tradition of naming birdfarms after battles: USS _Oriskany_, in particular is a name I like. Can’t ignore the ship named for a fictional place, though: [USS _Shangri-La_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Shangri-La) While it’s a good name, you couldn’t get me aboard the current HMS _Vanguard_, a ballistic missile sub. A.k.a a boomer. Considering the fate of the dreadnought era [HMS _Vanguard_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vanguard_%281909%29) it’s just too suggestive. [USS _Wolverine_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wolverine_%28IX-64%29) had a great name. And, well, it was a _paddle-wheel_ aircraft carrier! That’s just too cool. > [@Sampiro](#): > > Exactly the one I came in to mention. Since it’s mentioned I’ll mention the oddity of “Queen Anne’s Revenge”, Blackbeard’s flagship, which began as a British ship with one of the worst names for any warship: Concord (from Concordia, the goddess of peace). It would be like naming a ship the HMS Butterfly or SS Pug Puppies. Are you aware of the British Flower-class corvettes? Just a couple names, not at random: [HMS _Pansy_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Heartsease_%28K15%29) (name changed to HMS _Heartsease_ HMS _Hyacinth_ HMS _Tulip_ HMS _Gladiolus_ ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/69 "2009-09-24T11:01:27Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Thanks for the spelling correction; for the rest, y’all gonna argue with a Lord of the Admiralty? 🙂 > > I thought “his” Dreadnought was named with regard to his motto. I had no idea there was a previous Dreadnought. > [@Cicero](#): > > There was a Dreadnought in 1875. There were probably several earlier. (it is interesting that the Japanese laid down their own big gun ship “Satsuma” earlier and I believe America also had one laid down. The British were able to build the Dreadnought faster though. End of hijack). Psst, it’s in the OP 😉 The original Dreadnought was a Tudor ship from the 1500s. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/70 "2009-09-24T11:03:24Z")
HMS _Saucy_. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/71 "2009-09-24T11:47:37Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Psst, it’s in the OP 😉 The original Dreadnought was a Tudor ship from the 1500s. Well last time I offer extremely stupid advice in one of _your_ posts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/72 "2009-09-24T14:05:22Z")
I’ve always been partial to the [USS/CSS _Queen of the West_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_the_West). Also a big fan of: USS _Monitor_ (an armored ship named after a carnivorous lizard) USS _Carondelet_ (just a lyrical word on the tongue) USS _Tang_ (named after a fish, but I imagine it as the sound of a bullet bouncing off) Also the British names, many of those already mentioned. I’ll throw in HMS _Scorpion_ HMS _Wyvern_ And probably my favorite, the USS _New Ironsides_. “OLD Ironsides” was a nickname, but this one was the formal name of the ship. She has the distinction of being struck by hostile fire more times than any other vessel in United States history, with a total casualty list of one man from all that fire. She also survived a submersible spar torpedo attack (although damaged) and an aborted attempt to detonate a giant mine under her keel. \*New Ironsides \*indeed. Fictionally: in a tabletop game of _Wooden Ships & Iron Men_ – a game which recreates a period in which the worst thing that can happen to a ship is to be subjected to close-range raking fire in her stern – a friend named his ship something flowery in French which he claimed translated as “the _Sanctity of the Buttocks_.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/73 "2009-09-24T14:33:59Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Considering the fate of the dreadnought era [HMS _Vanguard_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vanguard_%281909%29) it’s just too suggestive. The wiki article claims that two of the gun turrets of this class were called “P” and “Q”. I’ll never hear the phrase, “Mind your P’s and Q’s” the same again. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/74 "2009-09-24T17:05:19Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > There was a Dreadnought in 1875. There were probably several earlier. And maybe one in the future, if the Rastafarians build a navy. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/75 "2009-09-24T17:29:07Z")
For those into alternate timeline SF there is the carrier USS Hillary Clinton, to quote Capt Queeg “I kid you not”.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/76 "2009-09-24T17:48:26Z")
Not as unlikely as the USS Monica Lewinski. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/77 "2009-09-24T18:18:52Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > The Bismark. The most delicious ship of WW2. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/78 "2009-09-24T18:40:07Z")
The HMS _Colossus_, _Iron Duke, Revenge and Tiger_ are all good. The Coast Guard has a cutter named the Midget. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/79 "2009-09-24T21:20:33Z")
I always thought the _HMS Serapis_ had a nice ring to it. Or _Queen Anne’s Revenge_ Or [The USS Green Bay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Green_Bay_(LPD-20)), it’s bridge is called Lambeau…why yes I’m a Packer fan, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218/80 "2009-09-24T22:20:32Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I’ve always been partial to the [USS/CSS _Queen of the West_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_the_West). > > Also a big fan of: > > USS _Monitor_ **(an armored ship named after a carnivorous lizard)** > USS _Carondelet_ (just a lyrical word on the tongue) > USS _Tang_ (named after a fish, but I imagine it as the sound of a bullet bouncing off) > > " :: nitpick:: [THIS](http://monitorcenter.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=487&sid=73e715a29a2ddc6769386b3b393deccd) site seems to suggest a different kind of Monitor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-warship-name/511218.md?page=5)