This assertion came up in a conversation at work recently, I’ve done some google research myself but haven’t found anything conclusive.
It sounds unlikely to me, but I’m sure the Straightdope will have…well the straight-dope on this question. 
It won’t take long to find refutations, but the fact is that people who take positions like “X never did Y” are going to counter-argue that “engagement” and “battle” are very different.
(Next October 7th, quietly fly a little tricolor on a cupcake with “220” lettered in icing)
Do encounters with only two or three ships total count?
Because the U.S.S. Constitution pretty famously took out the H.M.S. Guerriere, then later beat the H.M.S. Java in another, and then H.M.S. Cyane and the H.M.S. Levant in a single engagement.
There’s arguably the Battle of Denmark Straits, where the H.M.S. Hood was sunk, and where the German ships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen escaped blockade, but the Bismarck was damaged enough to have to run to drydock, so you could argue it was a net victory or loss.
Second World War, off the coast of Malaysia, to the Japanese. Driven off more than sunk, but still a defeat I think!
I can’t imagine how we could possibly maintain a 100% record considering how many sea battles we must have been in over the years.
Somebody has been taking the words of the puff piece Rule, Britannia! just a little too literally.
The famous battle of Jutland (WWI) was arguably a British defeat (in terms of losses). Strategically, it was a victory (the German High Seas Fleet never challenged the RN again). There was also the engagement off Coromandel , in which Von Spee destroyed Admiral Craddock’s force.
Well to be fair, the guy who said it thought it was unlikely as well. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your last sentence?
Yeah, that’s why it made me raise my eyebrows at the thought.
Counts for me. 
Thanks for the answers everyone!
btw on a sidenote the assertion came up during a conversation about a recent book by an American author I recently read. She kept referring to the ‘Royal Navy’, the ‘Royal Air Force’, and the ‘Royal Army’, I knew the latter wasn’t correct but I didn’t know why so did a little research, and they say the Irish have long memories!
The Dutch navy under De Ruyter and Tromp defeated the British navy in the 17th century.
Didn’t the Japanese sink two of Britain’s capital ships at the beginning of WW2 with no significant losses of their own?
I guess it’s not a naval battle, since no Japanese ships were involved, but the British Navy got dominated by the Japanese air force.
This is an American board right?
The RN was famously defeated at theBattle of Chesapeake Bay 224 years ago tommorrow. The French victory led directly to the British capitulation at Yorktown. Have you guys seriously not heard of that?
Otherwise who knows? The US might have been beginning this weak to celebrate Elizabeth II becoming the longest regaining monarch.
Other defeats include Force Z, Cornonel and variousrogerings at the hands of the Dutch in the 17th centuries.
The beginning? :dubious:
Beginning of the Pacific war, that is.
The Royal Navy has a lot of defeats in its history, and I’m a little puzzled as to why someone who has any interest at all in naval warfare wouldn’t know about Chesapeake Bay, or their various defeats in the War of 1812 (during which the RN performed dreadfully) or the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, Medway (as opposed to Midway), and others.
The British have a hell of a naval history, but no one is undefeated. Still, they usually end up winning in the end. As the old joke goes, they don’t win all the battles but they always win the last one.
Something seems to be wrong with our bloody ships today.
The “something wrong with our ships today” was a quote from Admiral Beatty-who was responsible for sending in the battle cruisers to closely engage the Germans-he was responsible for the losses.
cough cough HMS Hood:
The Americans share the glory in this one:
Smaller action, in 1943:
Japanese Carriers Gone Wild:
That, and the German armor.
The Battle of Lake Erie, the Battle of Lake Champlain, and the Battle of Baltimore, all in the War of 1812 alone.
HMS Shannon captured one of the large frigates, USS Chesapeake. Some of her wood is in the Chesapeake Mill in Wickham.
