HMS Arethusa

Numerous Royal Navy ships have borne the name HMS "Arethusa", after the Greek mythological nymph Arethusa who was transformed by Artemis into a fountain.

* The first "Arethusa" (32 guns) was a frigate captured from the French Navy in 1759.
* The second "Arethusa" (38 guns) was a frigate built at Bristol in 1781.
* The third "Arethusa" (46 guns) was a frigate built at Pembroke in 1817, and renamed "Bacchus" in 1844 upon her conversion into a hulk.
* The fourth "Arethusa" (50 guns) was a sail-powered frigate also built at Pembroke in 1849 and later fitted with a steam engine. She later became a training ship and survived into the 20th century. She was the last ship to enter combat by sail alone.
* The fifth "Arethusa", launched 1882 at Govan, was a "Leander"-class protected cruiser. She was scrapped in 1905.
* The sixth "Arethusa", launched 1913 at Chatham, was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers. Sunk by a mine during the First World War.
* The seventh "Arethusa", launched 1934 at Chatham, was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers, and was seriously damaged by a torpedo during the Second World War. Scrapped 1950.
* The last "Arethusa", launched 1963 at Cowes, was a "Leander"-class frigate. Decommissioned 1989, sunk as training target 1991.

Battle Honours: USHANT 1778 & 1781 - ST LUCIA 1796 - CURACOA 1807 - BLACK SEA 1854 - CHINA 1900 - HELIGOLAND 1914 - DOGGER BANK 1915 - NORWAY 1940-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42 - NORMANDY 1944 [ [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Arethusa.htm HMS "Arethusa", British light cruiser, WW2] ]

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