Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 6, 2026

HMS Protector

Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been called HMS Protector:HMS Protector (1749), a 44-gun fifth rate listed in 1749 that served in India and was wrecked on 1 January 1776 by a cyclone near Pondicherry. Protector, a fireship in service in 1758. HMS Protector (1805), a 178-ton, 12-gun brig launched on 1 February 1805. Converted to a survey ship in 1817, she was sold for breaking up in 1833. Protector, a Britomart-class gunboat laid down at Portsmouth in 1861 and cancelled on 12 December 1863. HMS Protector (A146), a net layer launched in 1936 and converted to an Antarctic patrol ship in 1955. Sold in 1970 for breaking up. HMS Protector (P244), a patrol vessel launched as the commercial vessel Seaforth Saga in 1975, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1983 and sold in 1987. HMS Protector (A173), the Antarctic patrol ship ; chartered in 2011 and purchased in 2013 as a replacement for HMS Endurance.

Last revised
Jul 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
281 w
Citations
Source

Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been called HMS Protector:

  • HMS Protector (1749), a 44-gun fifth rate listed in 1749 that served in India and was wrecked on 1 January 1776 by a cyclone near Pondicherry.
  • Protector, a fireship in service in 1758.
  • HMS Protector (1805), a 178-ton, 12-gun brig launched on 1 February 1805. Converted to a survey ship in 1817, she was sold for breaking up in 1833.
  • Protector, a Britomart-class gunboat laid down at Portsmouth in 1861 and cancelled on 12 December 1863.
  • HMS Protector (A146), a net layer launched in 1936 and converted to an Antarctic patrol ship in 1955. Sold in 1970 for breaking up.
  • HMS Protector (P244), a patrol vessel launched as the commercial vessel Seaforth Saga in 1975, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1983 and sold in 1987.
  • HMS Protector (A173), the Antarctic patrol ship (ex-MV Polarbjørn); chartered in 2011 and purchased in 2013 as a replacement for HMS Endurance.
See also

See also

  • HCS Protector (1751) was launched at Rotherhithe for the British East India Company as a warship to deter pirates and the French Company in Indian waters. A monsoon wrecked her in 1761 while she lay at anchor in Pondicherry Roads.
  • HMAS Protector, ships of the Royal Australian Navy
  • HMCS Protector, a former naval base of the Royal Canadian Navy
  • HMCS Protecteur, a ship of the Royal Canadian Navy
  • HMC Protector, a cutter of the UK Border Force
References

References