Built by BAe Systems (formerly Yarrow Shipbuilders) at Scotstoun on the River Clyde, the current HMS Kent is the twelfth ship to bear the name. Launched in May 1998 by her Sponsor, HRH Princess Alexandra, the Ship's Company is very proud of her distinguished history within the Royal Navy. The First HMS Kent was commissioned in 1650, and since then there have only been 60 years cumulatively where there has not been an HMS Kent in the Navy. An impressive 16 Battle Honors earned by her predecessors, mean that the Ship is able to live up to her motto 'Invicta', the Latin for 'Unconquerable', which has almost as much history as the Ship herself. In 1066 when William the Conquerer was consolidating his newly-gained power in England, he marched south towards Kent from London. To repel the invading Normans, the men of Kent used the ‘Old Oak’ wood in their trees to create the noise in the forests of a much larger army than there actually was, fooling the invading forces into creating a treaty which allowed the King of Kent to retain certain privileges and traditions. HMS Kent still honours this link when sailing into ports in Kent, by flying a bow of holme oak from the yardarm.
Royal Navy Community SiteHMS Kent
A very warm welcome to HMS Kent's Web Pages. From here, you should be able to find out all you would ever want to know about HMS Kent, her history, and the Ship’s Company who make her run.
