HMS Triumph (S93)

1562

The First HMS Triumph

Laid down in 1561 and launched in October 1562, the first Triumph was a 68-gun galleon, with a nominal burden of 1,000 tons. She was claimed to be the largest ship built in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

1623

The Second HMS Triumph

The second Triumph was a 44-gun great ship, launched in 1623. Clocking up no fewer than ten battle honours, she is the most decorated of all her namesakes.

1698

The Third HMS Triumph

The third HMS Triumph was another great ship, this time built with 90 guns. She was renamed HMS Prince in 1714, remaining in service for most of the century before being broken up in 1773.

1739

The Fourth HMS Triumph

The fourth Triumph began life as a Spanish 18-gun sloop named Triunfo. She was captured on November 23 1739 at Puerto Bello. She foundered in 1740, less than a year after her capture.

1764

The Fifth HMS Triumph

Built in 1764 and spending 49 years of her 86-year commission at sea, the fifth HMS Triumph was the second of the Valiant Class. These were longer and more heavily armed than other 74-gun Third Rate Class ships of the time.

1860

The Sixth HMS Triumph

In 1860 a new ship was laid down with an intended name of HMS Triumph; however, when Prince Albert died in December 1861, it was renamed HMS Prince Consort in memorial.

1870

Swiftsure class

Built with retractable propellers, the seventh Triumph was a Swiftsure-class battleship designed to serve as a flagship with the Pacific Squadron. She served in this post between 1877 to 1882, and again from 1885 to 1888.

1903

The Seventh HMS Triumph

Originally ordered by Chile and later purchased by the Royal Navy, the seventh HMS Triumph played an active role in British operations during the First World War until her loss 1915.

1939

The Eighth HMS Triumph part 1

Built for service during the Second World War, the eighth Triumph initially served in the North Sea before hitting a German mine on Boxing Day 1939. Under protection from fighter aircraft, she managed to limp home.

1940

The Eighth HMS Triumph part 2

In September 1940, she was repaired and ready for action in the Mediterranean, where she sank or damaged 22 enemy vessels. She struck a mine in January 1942, sinking with the loss of all hands.

1946

The Ninth HMS Triumph part 1

This Colossus-class aircraft carrier launched on November 2 1944. Based on an existing carrier design, the Colossus-class are smaller in size and therefore less expensive than full size fleet carriers.

1950

The Ninth HMS Triumph part 2

In 1950, HMS Triumph was en route to Japan when hostilities broke out in Korea, where she flew hundreds of combat air patrols to great effect. Following her Korean service, she acted as a cadet training ship.

1986

HMS Triumph today

The tenth and current HMS Triumph, a Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine, was ordered in 1986 and launched in 1991. She was the nineteenth nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine to be built for the Royal Navy.