Royal Navy has renamed battleships on several occasions throughout its history, though such instances were relatively rare and often carried significant reasons. Renaming a battleship was typically driven by political, practical, or ceremonial considerations. Here are notable reasons and examples of battleship renaming in the Royal Navy:
1. To Honor a New Monarch or Change in National Identity
When a change in the monarchy or a significant political shift occurred, ships were occasionally renamed to reflect the new era.
HMS Royal Sovereign (1915): Originally planned as HMS Renown, the name was changed to HMS Royal Sovereign during construction to align with the tradition of naming battleships after monarchs or symbols of royal authority.
HMS King George V (1911): Originally intended to be named HMS Royal George, the name was altered to honor the new king upon his accession.
2. Changing Roles or Classes
If a ship was significantly reconstructed or repurposed, it might be renamed to reflect its new role.
HMS Victoria and HMS Howe: These two ships of the Victorian era were originally laid down as HMS Renown and HMS Howe, respectively. Howe was renamed Victoria during construction to honor Queen Victoria, reflecting her prominent role during that era.
3. Avoiding Confusion or Political Sensitivities
In some cases, renaming was done to avoid confusion with other ships or due to political sensitivities.
HMS Canada (1915): Originally built for the Chilean Navy as Almirante Latorre, she was purchased by the Royal Navy during World War I and renamed HMS Canada. This reflected her new ownership while still acknowledging her South American origins.
4. Renaming Captured or Acquired Ships
Captured or transferred ships often received new names to integrate them into the Royal Navy.
HMS Agincourt (1914): Originally built as the Brazilian battleship Rio de Janeiro and later acquired by Turkey as Sultan Osman I, the ship was seized by the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War I and renamed HMS Agincourt.
HMS Malaya: Though not renamed after entering Royal Navy service, this battleship was funded by the Federated Malay States, making her name symbolic of her origins.
5. To Reuse Prestigious Names
Renaming sometimes occurred to preserve prestigious or historically significant names for battleships.
HMS Revenge (1915): During her construction, HMS Revenge was briefly considered for renaming to HMS Renown, but this idea was abandoned, and the name "Revenge" was retained as part of a class of battleships named after royal and powerful attributes.