HMS Rainbow

Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS "Rainbow", after the rainbow, a common meteorological phenomenon:

* was a 26-gun galleon launched in 1586. She was rebuilt in 1602, and again in 1617 to carry 40 guns. She was reconstructed about 1630 as a Second Rate of 54 guns. She was sunk as a breakwater in 1680.
* was a 32-gun fifth rate captured from the French in 1697 and sold in 1698.
*HMS|Rainbow|1747|6 was a 44-gun fifth rate launched in 1747. She was used as a troopship from 1776, was on harbour service from 1784 and was sold in 1802.
*HMS|Rainbow|1806|6 was a 16-gun brig-sloop captured from the French in 1806 and sold in 1807.
*HMS|Rainbow|1809|6 was a 28-gun sixth rate, previously the French ship "Iris". She was captured in 1809 by HMS "Aimable" and was sold in 1815.
*HMS|Rainbow|1823|6 was a 28-gun sixth rate launched in 1823 and sold in 1838.
*HMS|Rainbow|1856|6 was an "Albacore" class wood screw gunboat launched in 1856. She was used as a survey vessel from 1857, and a training ship from 1873. She was sold in 1888.
*HMS "Rainbow" was an "Apollo" class protected cruiser launched in 1891. She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1910. They used her as a depot ship from 1917 and sold her into civilian service in 1920.
*HMS|Rainbow|N16|6 was a "Rainbow" class submarine launched in 1930 and sunk in a collision with the steamer "Antonietta Costa" in 1940.

ee also

*HMCS "Rainbow" was previously the American "Tench" class submarine USS "Argonaut". She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1968 and was renamed HMCS "Rainbow", serving until 1974.