HMS Dreadnought - Definition and Overview

Six ships and one submarine of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Dreadnought in the expectation that they would "dread nought but God."

• Dreadnought of 40 guns is mentioned as in service in 1553, but its existence is doubtful.
• The first Dreadnought was a 41-gun ship launched in 1573, rebuilt in 1592 and 1614, then broken up in 1648.
• The second Dreadnought was a 60-gun 4th rate launched in 1691, rebuilt in 1706 and broken up 1748.
• The third Dreadnought was a 60-gun 4th rate launched in 1742 and sold 1784.
• The fourth Dreadnought was a 98-gun 2nd rate launched in 1801, converted to a hospital ship in 1827, and broken up 1857.
• The fifth Dreadnought was a battleship launched in 1875 and hulked in 1903, then sold in 1908.
• The sixth Dreadnought was a revolutionary battleship, launched in 1906 and sold for breakup in 1921.
• The seventh Dreadnought (S101) was the UK's first nuclear-powered submarine.