HMS Circe

Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Circe, after the Greek goddess Circe.

• The first Circe was a 28-gun sixth-rate launched in 1785 and wrecked in 1803.
• The second Circe was a 32-gun fifth-rate launched in 1804 and sold in 1814.
• The third Circe was a 46-gun fifth-rate launched in 1827, confined to harbour service in 1866, renamed HMS Impregnable in 1916 and sold 1922.
• The fourth Circe was a torpedo gunboat in service from 1892 to 1920.
• The fifth Circe was an auxiliary minesweeper requistioned in 1939 and transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Medea in 1942.
• The sixth Circe was a minesweeper launched in 1942 and broken up 1967.