Famous Ships and Boats in History

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Pacific Princess — American cruise ship
The ship featured in the TV series Love Boat from 1977 to 1986. In 1998 the Pacific Princess was impounded by police in Piraeus, Greece after 25 kg of heroin was found on board. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Sold to be scrapped in March of 2012.

Pamir — German barque, four-masted steel-hulled windjammer
Last commercial sailing ship to round Cape Horn in 1949. Over her life at various times, she flew under the flags of Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Finland. LAUNCHED: 1905, July → FATE: Caught in Hurricane Carrie and sank off the Azores, September 21, 1957.

Panay, USS — American river gunboat
The USS Panay incident; on December 12, 1937, a Japanese bombing attack on this U.S. Navy river gunboat and three Standard Oil Company tankers on the Yangtze River. Two newsreel cameramen were present on Panay and filmed much of the attack and afterward from shore as Panay sank. See Newsreel. LAUNCHED: 1927, November 10 → FATE: Sunk in December 12, 1937.

Patrick Henry, SS — American liberty ship; cargo ship
First of 2751 liberty ships built during World War II. Liberty ships were built in a mass production method, each typically in 70 days or less. SS Patrick Henry made 12 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. LAUNCHED: 1941, September 18 → FATE: Went aground off the coast of Florida July of 1946, scrapped in 1960.

Pequod — American whaling ship
Fictitious 19th-century Nantucket whaling ship in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville and in several movies. In the novel, the ship's captain is the one-legged, monomaniacal Ahab. LAUNCHED: 1840, or earlier → FATE: Destroyed by a whale supposedly in 1851.

(Another )

Peral — Spanish submarine
The first fully capable military submarine and the first electric battery-powered submarine. She was also the fastest at the time. Since she lacked a means of charging batteries while underway, such as an internal combustion engine, she had very limited endurance and range. LAUNCHED: 1889 → FATE: Withdrawn from service in 1890 and is now preserved at the Cartagena Naval Museum.

Perserverance — American steam boat
First steam boat that operated using a series of vertical paddles. Invented by John Fitch, an improved model carried passengers on round-trips between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey, summer of 1790. LAUNCHED: 1787 → FATE: Unknown.

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Pewabic, SS — American lake steamship; cargo ship
Worst shipwreck on the Great Lakes with the loss of an estimated 125 lives, hundreds of tons of copper, silver, and iron ore. Over the years five divers died attempting to salvage the cargo. Some of the copper was recovered during World War I, the rest in 1974. LAUNCHED: 1863 → FATE: Collided with SS Meteor in Michigan's Thunder Bay and sank August 9, 1865.

Pilar — American fishing boat
Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat. Pilar was a nickname for the American novelist's second wife, Pauline, and the heroine in For Whom the Bell Tolls. LAUNCHED: 1934, April → FATE: On display at Hemingway's former home, Finca Vigía, near Havana, Cuba.

Pilot — Russian icebreaker
World's first steam-powered and metal-ship icebreaker. Originally been built as a steam-powered propeller tug. LAUNCHED: 1864 → FATE: Unknown.

Pinta, (La) — Spanish three masted caravel
One of Columbus' ships of discovery. The fastest of Columbus' three ships to America in 1492, and Columbus' flag ship on the return trip to Spain in 1943. She was among the fleet of 17 ships for Columbus' second voyage. LAUNCHED: 1441, circa → FATE: Around 1501.

Pioneering Spirit — Swiss catamaran construction ship, Korean built
The world's largest ocean vessel, designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms. Displacing 1 million tons, the vessel operates as a semi-submersible. Using ballasts, she is able to lower herself when installing payload or raise herself when removing payload. LAUNCHED: 2013, January 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Ponce, USS — American amphibious assault ship
First "Afloat Forward Staging Base" (AFSB) ship. She was refitted in 2012 to serve as floating port for helicopters and patrol craft. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Portland, PS — American sidewheel steamer
Known as the "Titanic of New England" and considered New England's worst maritime disaster, she went down with an estimated 192-245 passengers and crew. The storm that sank her, killed more than 400 persons and sank more than 150 other boats and ships. LAUNCHED: 1889 → FATE: Sank in the Portland Gale off of Cape Ann November 27, 1898.

Poseidon, SS — American cruise ship; British ocean liner
Subject of a ship sinking in the 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure and four movie adaptations, 1972, 1979, 2005, and 2006. In each version of the story, the ship is capsized and several survivors try to make their way to the top of the overturned ship. LAUNCHED: 1969, original story → FATE: Inconclusive.

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Potemkin — Russian battleship
A rebellion of the crew against their cruel officers in 1905 signaled the coming of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Following the mutiny, now called Panteleimon, she accidentally sank a Russian submarine in 1909 and was badly damaged when she ran aground in 1911. LAUNCHED: 1904 → FATE: Scuttled by interventionists at Sevastopol April of 1919.

President — American steamboat
The last original "Western Rivers" style side-wheel river excursion steamboat in the United States and the second riverboat casino in modern times. In the 1950s and 1960s, she berthed in New Orleans for many years as a popular music venue featuring concerts by national acts; in 1990 she was converted into a floating casino. LAUNCHED: 1924 → FATE: In 2007 she was disassembled and moved in pieces to St. Elmo, Illinois where she may be re-assembled as a non-floating tourist attraction and hotel.

President, SS — British paddle steamship, with sails; ocean-going
First steamship lost at sea on a transatlantic run, taking with her all 136 on board. Constructed with a third deck on top of the hull and designed with luxurious staterooms, she was top heavy and rolled excessively. LAUNCHED: 1840, August → FATE: Lost during a gale off Nantucket Shoals March of 1841.

Preußen — German windjammer, five-masted
The largest sailed ship ever built and the only five-masted, full-rigged, ship built until the 21st century. She was built entirely of steel. She was used in the saltpeter trade with Chile, setting speed records in the process. LAUNCHED: 1902, May 18 → FATE: Swept onto rocks and sank near the White Cliffs of Dover November 6, 1910.

Prince of Wales, HMS — British battleship
She and Repulse were the first capital ships to be sunk solely by naval air power on the open sea. She was involved in several key actions of the World War II, including the Battle of the Denmark Strait against the German battleship Bismarck. LAUNCHED: 1939, May 18 → FATE: Sunk on December 10, 1941 by Japanese air attack off Kuantan, South China Sea.

(Another )

Princess Alice — British paddle steamer
The greatest loss of life, 600-700, of any British inland waterway shipping accident after being struck by the Bywell Castle. Because of the river pollution from the sewage and local industrial output, the recovered bodies were covered with slime and toxins. LAUNCHED: 1865, July → FATE: Sank on September 3, 1878 after the collision on the River Thames.

Princess Mafalda, SS — Italian ocean liner
Her sinking and the loss of 314 people was the greatest loss of life in Italian shipping and the largest ever in the in the Southern Hemisphere in peacetime. At the time, she was the largest Italian passenger ship afloat and known for her luxury. LAUNCHED: 1908, October 18 → FATE: Sank of the coast of Brazil October 9, 1927.

Princess Sophia, SS — Canadian passenger ship
The worst maritime accident in the history of British Columbia and Alaska. The wreck and the loss of 343 people was controversial since some thought that all aboard could have been saved. LAUNCHED: 1911, November 18 → FATE: Grounded on October 24,1918 and sank following day during a storm near Juneau Alaska.

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(Another )

Principessa Jolanda, SS — Italian ocean liner
She was to be among the first transatlantic vessels with Marconi telegraphy, electric lighting and telephones. She never sailed, but capsized during initial launch and sank. LAUNCHED: 1907, September 18 → FATE: Sank September 22, 1907.

Prineton, USS — American screw steam warship
First ship with screw propellers powered by an engine mounted entirely below the waterline. In 1844, during a pleasure cruise for dignitaries, a gun exploded killing 6 high-ranking federal officials and wounding 20 more, the worst such tragedy in American history. LAUNCHED: 1843, September 5 → FATE: Broken up at the Boston Navy Yard, October 1849.

(Another )

Prins Willem replica — Dutch brig; replica of a full-rigged ship
This replica of a ship built in 1649 and sunk in 1662 was lost in fire on the morning of 30 July 2009(See alternate image). In 2004, the replica became part of the theme park Cape Holland in Den Helder, the Netherlands. LAUNCHED: 1985 → FATE: Burned and sank at Den Helder, Netherlands July 30, 2009.

Prinz Eugen — German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser
After World war II ended, the US Navy assigned her to the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. During the Battle of Denmark Strait (May 24, 1941), she and Bismarck engaged and sank the British ships HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales. LAUNCHED: 1938, August 22 → FATE: Having survived the atomic blasts, she was towed to Kwajalein Atoll, where she ultimately capsized and sank in December 1946.

Prinzessin Victoria Luise — German passenger ship
First purpose-built cruise ship. Not only did she look more like a private yacht, she had 120 first class cabins, a library, gymnasium, and darkroom. LAUNCHED: 1900, June 18 → FATE: Declared a loss December 19, 1906 after running onto rocks at Kingston.

Proteus — American catamaran
First vessel of the wave adaptive modular vessel-type. Developed by Marine Advanced Research, she has been nicknamed "The Spider Ship" because four legs connect the superstructure to the outriggers. LAUNCHED: 2007 → FATE: In active service.

PT 109 — American motor torpedo boat
Commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy. The movie of the incident PT 109 was made with President Kennedy's approval provided the events be historically accurate, and the profits go to the survivors of PT 109 and their families. LAUNCHED: 1942, June 18 → FATE: Rammed and sunk in the Solomon Islands by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri on a moonless night, August 2, 1943 during World War II.

PT-73 — American PT boat
Patrol boat in the TV sitcom McHale's Navy. The real-life PT-73 was built on August 12, 1942, and was destroyed by the crew in January, 1945. LAUNCHED: 1962, 1966 for the TV series → FATE: Inconlusive.

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Quaker City, USS — American paddle steamship, side-wheeler
During a trip to Europe in 1867, she was the scene of some of the tales related by Mark Twain in his book The Innocents Abroad. During the American Civil War, she one of the most active and effective ships in the Union Navy's blockade of Chesapeake Bay. LAUNCHED: 1854 → FATE: Sold to the Haitian Navy in February of 1871, renamed République, lost at sea off Bermuda in March of 1871.

(Another )

Queen Anne's Revenge — English sloop
Flagship of pirate Blackbeard (Edward Thatch). As Conccord was captured by the French in 1711, and then as La Concord she was taken by pirates in 1717. LAUNCHED: 1710 → FATE: Run aground near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina in May, 1718.

Queen Elizabeth, HMS — British aircraft carrier
Largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft. With no catapults and catch wires she carries only V/STOL aircraft, F-35B Lightning II fighters and Merlin helicopters. LAUNCHED: 2014, July 18 → FATE: In service 2017.

(Another )

Queen Elizabeth, RMS — British ocean liner
With sister ship Queen Mary, dominated the transatlantic passenger service. She was used in World War II as troop transport. After being converted to a university and renamed Seawise University, she was destroyed by fire. The charred wreck was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. LAUNCHED: 1938, September 18 → FATE: After a fire, capsized in Hong Kong Harbor, January 9, 1972.

Queen Mary, RMS — British ocean liner
Once dominated transatlantic passenger service with sister ship Queen Elizabeth. She was used in World War II as troop transport carrying up to 15,000 passengers at a time. Featured in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure and the 1981 movie Goliath Awaits. LAUNCHED: 1934, Septmber 26 → FATE: After sailing nearly 4 million miles, she was retired in 1967 and berthed in Long Beach, California as a museum ship and hotel from 1974 to present.

Rattler, HMS — British sloop made of wood with metal frame
First warship to adopt a screw propellor. In March 1845, she beat HMS Alecto in a series of races, followed by a contest in which she towed Alecto backwards at a speed of 2 knots (3.7 km/h). LAUNCHED: 1843 → FATE: Broken up 1856.

Red Rover, USS — American Confederate paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
First ship fitted and staffed as a hospital ship. During the American Civil War, she was a Confederate barracks ship until the Union captured and refit her in March of 1862. LAUNCHED: 1859 → FATE: Decommissioned and sold at public auction November 29, 1865.

Resolution, HMS — British Collier
The first ship to cross the Antarctic Circle reaching beyond latitude 71 degrees south. She was the ship on which Captain James Cook made his second and third voyages of exploration in the Pacific. LAUNCHED: 1770 → FATE: Taken by the French June 10, 1782, renamed La Liberté and ended up rotting in Narragansett Bay not far from Cook's other ship, Endeavour.

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Reuben James, USS — American destroyer
First US ship to be sunk in World War II. She was torpedoed while escorting an Atlantic convoy of supply ships to Britain; 159 crew were lost, 44 survived. LAUNCHED: 1919, October → FATE: Sunk October 31, 1941.

(Another )

Rhone, RMS — British packet ship
Sunk during a hurricane with the loss of approximately 123 lives. The wreckage is now a popular diving site and was used in the 1977 film The Deep that featured Jacqueline Bisset in a wet T‑shirt. LAUNCHED: 1865 → FATE: Wrecked in the British Virgin Islands on October 29, 1867.

Riptide — American yacht
Boat in the TV series by the same name about two detectives. She was first shown at the 1938-39 New York Boat Show. LAUNCHED: 1939 → FATE: Restored and still in use as Southwind.

River Queen — American sidewheel steamer
Closely associated with President Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant while operating on the Potomac River during the American Civil War. In March 1865, Abraham Lincoln met with his generals aboard the River Queen to discuss strategy for the end of the Civil War. LAUNCHED: 1864 → FATE: Burn to the water line in 1911, July

Robert E. Lee — American paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
Won a steamboat race against the Natchez VI, going from St. Louis, Missouri to New Orleans, in 3 days, 18 hours and 14 minutes. The speed record still stands. A replica of the ship was built but it also burned in 2010. LAUNCHED: 1866 → FATE: Caught fire and lost north of New Orleans September 30, 1882.

Robert E. Perry, SS — American liberty ship
Gained fame during World War II for being built in the shortest time for such a large vessel. Typical completion of liberty ships took 50 days; she was completed in 4 days 15 hours and 29 minutes after the keel was laid down. LAUNCHED: 1942, November 12 → FATE: Scrapped at Baltimore, June 1963.

Rochambeau — American frigate, ironclad
The longest wooden ship ever built. When the French thought Otto von Bismarck might be interested in the ship, they hurriedly bought her from the Americans and commission her in 1867. LAUNCHED: 1862, July 22 as Dunderberg → FATE: The French scrapped her in 1874.

Rocknes, MV — Dutch rock dumping vessel, formerly a bulk carrier
As the world's largest rock dumping vessel, her unexpected capsizing killed 18 of 30 crew. The tragedy was due to high center of gravity, uneven cargo loading, and a punctured hull after touching bottom. LAUNCHED: 2001 → FATE: She capsized in shallow water south of Bergen Norway January 19, 2004. She was to be righted and repaired.

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Royal Charles, HMS — British first-rate three-decker ship of the line
During the English Restoration, she brought Charles II and his entourage from the Dutch Republic to England to reclaim his crown. At 1,229 tons, she was larger than Sovereign of the Seas, the first three-deck ship of the line. LAUNCHED: 1655, April 18 → FATE: Sold for scrap in 1673 by Dutch navy.

Royal Clipper — German tall ship; steel-hulled five masted fully rigged design
The largest and only five-masted full-rigged sailing ship in service. Her design was based on the German ship Preussen, but was configured for passenger comfort rather than cargo carrying. LAUNCHED: 2001 → FATE: Still in service.

Royal George, HMS — English first-rate ship of the line
One of the most serious maritime losses to occur in British water, sinking while undergoing routine maintenance taking more than 800 lives. She was the largest warship in the world at the time of launching. LAUNCHED: 1756, February 18 → FATE: Sank while anchored off Portsmouth August 29, 1782.

(Another )

Royal Oak, HMS — British Battleship, Revenge-class
The first of five Royal Navy battleships and battlecruisers sunk in the World War II. When she was torpedoed, 835 of her 1,234 crew were killed. The brass letters of her name were removed from the sunken ship and are now displayed in the Scapa Flow visitor center. LAUNCHED: 1914, November 17 → FATE: Was sunk in Scapa Flow in October 1939 by a German U-boat,

The number of All Countries All Ships and Boats listed is 51

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For a full list of all ships, select HERE

First Ship on each page
Page	Ship Name (Country and Type)
1.	Pamir (German barque)
2.	Pewabic, SS (American lake steamship)
3.	Potemkin (Russian battleship)
4.	Principessa Jolanda, SS (Italian ocean liner)
5.	Quaker City, USS (American paddle steamship)
6.	Reuben James, USS (American destroyer)
7.	Royal Charles, HMS (British first-rate three-decker ship of the line)

All Countries All Ships and Boats
1.	Pamir German barque
2.	Panay, USS American river gunboat
3.	Patrick Henry, SS American liberty ship
4.	Pequod American whaling ship
5.	Peral Spanish submarine
6.	Perserverance American steam boat
7.	Pewabic, SS American lake steamship
8.	Pilar American fishing boat
9.	Pilot Russian icebreaker
10.	Pinta, (La) Spanish three masted caravel
11.	Pioneering Spirit Swiss catamaran
12.	Ponce, USS American amphibious assault ship
13.	Portland, PS American sidewheel steamer
14.	Poseidon, SS American cruise ship
15.	Potemkin Russian battleship
16.	President American steamboat
17.	President, SS British paddle steamship
18.	Preußen German windjammer
19.	Prince of Wales, HMS British battleship
20.	Princess Alice British paddle steamer
21.	Princess Mafalda, SS Italian ocean liner
22.	Princess Sophia, SS Canadian passenger ship
23.	Principessa Jolanda, SS Italian ocean liner
24.	Prineton, USS American screw steam warship
25.	Prins Willem replica Dutch brig
26.	Prinz Eugen German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser
27.	Prinzessin Victoria Luise German passenger ship
28.	Proteus American catamaran
29.	PT 109 American motor torpedo boat
30.	PT-73 American PT boat
31.	Quaker City, USS American paddle steamship
32.	Queen Anne's Revenge English sloop
33.	Queen Elizabeth, HMS British aircraft carrier
34.	Queen Elizabeth, RMS British ocean liner
35.	Queen Mary, RMS British ocean liner
36.	Rattler, HMS British sloop made of wood with metal frame
37.	Red Rover, USS American Confederate paddle steamboat
38.	Resolution, HMS British Collier
39.	Reuben James, USS American destroyer
40.	Rhone, RMS British packet ship
41.	Riptide American yacht
42.	River Queen American sidewheel steamer
43.	Robert E. Lee American paddle steamboat
44.	Robert E. Perry, SS American liberty ship
45.	Rochambeau American frigate
46.	Rocknes, MV Dutch rock dumping vessel
47.	Royal Charles, HMS British first-rate three-decker ship of the line
48.	Royal Clipper German tall ship
49.	Royal George, HMS English first-rate ship of the line
50.	Royal Oak, HMS British Battleship

Famous Ships and Boats

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All Countries All Ships and Boats