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His Majesty's Ship

{{short description|Ship prefix used in the United Kingdom and some other monarchies}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

His (or Her) Majesty's Ship, abbreviated HMS and H.M.S., is the ship prefix used for ships of the navy in some monarchies. Derivative terms such as HMAS and equivalents in other languages such as SMS are used.

File:Siegel der Kaiserlichen Marine - (Gespiegelt) - Kommando S.M.S. Braunschweig - Bild 002.jpg (1871–1919) - (Mirrored) - Kommando S.M.S. Braunschweig]]

Commonwealth Realms

=United Kingdom=

With regard to the separate English and Scottish navies of the medieval period and early modern era, historians usually use terms such as "English Ship" or "Scottish Ship".{{fact|date=March 2021}}

During the late 17th century, following the Restoration, the name Royal Navy was officially adopted, as well as the prefix His Majesty's Ship, and later, Her Majesty's Ship.{{fact|date=February 2022}} The first recorded use of the abbreviated form HMS was in 1789, in respect of HMS Phoenix.{{cite web |url= http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/visit_see_sailfaq.htm |title= Frequently Asked Questions of the Sailing Navy Gallery |website= www.royalnavalmuseum.org |publisher= National Museum of the Royal Navy |access-date= 18 July 2014 |archive-date= 14 February 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150214131230/http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/visit_see_sailfaq.htm }} From 1707 to circa 1800 HBMS (for His Britannic Majesty's Ship) was also used.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions0/ship-naming/the-evolution-of-ship-naming-in-the-u-s--navy.html |title=The Evolution of Ship Naming in the U.S. Navy |website=(US) Naval History and Heritage Command|quote=Some, but apparently not all, other navies also use prefixes with their ships' names. Perhaps the best known of these is HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship), long used by the Royal Navy. In earlier times this was also seen as HBMS for His Britannic Majesty's Ship. |date=22 May 2018 |access-date= 17 December 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://snr.org.uk/snr-forum/topic/hbmshms-usage-in-18thc/ |title=HBMS/HMS - usage in 18thC|website=The Society For Nautical Research|date=8 October 2008 |author=Justin Reay |access-date= 17 December 2018}}

Submarines in His Majesty's service also use the prefix HMS, standing for His Majesty's Submarine, though this is sometimes rendered HMS/m.[https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/HMS%2FM HMS/m] at acronyms.thefreedictionary; retrieved 5 September 2021 (See, for example, [https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160540 HMS/m Tireless], at IWM). The Royal Yacht Britannia, which was a commissioned ship in the Royal Navy, was known as HMY Britannia. Otherwise all ships in the Royal Navy are known as HM Ships, though formerly when a distinction was made between three-masted ship-rigged ships and smaller vessels they would be called HM Frigate X, or HM Sloop Y.

The prefix HMS is also used by shore establishments that are commissioned "stone frigates" in the Royal Navy. Examples include HMS Excellent, a training school located on an island in Portsmouth Harbour, and HMS Vulcan, in Caithness in the Highland area of Scotland, which is established to test the design of nuclear power systems for use in submarines.

The sample ship name used by the Royal Navy to signify a hypothetical vessel is {{HMS|Nonsuch}}.{{cite web|url= http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/3190.html |title= Royal Navy |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060206211827/https://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/3190.html |archive-date= February 6, 2006 }} This is a name that has been used by the Royal Navy in the past; on the eve of World War II the name was given{{by whom?|date=October 2018}} to the Royal Canadian Navy. {{As of | 2012}} HMCS Nonsuch was the "stone frigate" of the Edmonton Division of the Canadian Naval Reserve.{{cite web|url= http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/navres/nearestUnit_uniteLaPlusPres/hmcs_ncsm_NONSUCH/noh-unitPortal_portailUnite-eng.asp |title= HMCS Nonsuch |access-date= 2012-08-04 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130630044740/http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/navres/nearestUnit_uniteLaPlusPres/hmcs_ncsm_NONSUCH/noh-unitPortal_portailUnite-eng.asp |archive-date= 2013-06-30 }}

Prefixing the name by "the", as in "the HMS Ark Royal", while common, is considered bad grammar.

[http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/07/15/styleguidepdfjuly2004.pdf The Guardian style guide]

British government ships not in the Royal Navy have other designations, such as RFA for ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

=Use outside the United Kingdom=

Historically, variants on HMS have been used by the navies of British colonies. The practice is maintained in several Commonwealth realms – states in which the monarch of the UK is head of state – as well as other Commonwealth countries and former members of the British Empire.

==Current==

  • Papua New Guinea: His Majesty's Papua New Guinean Ship (HMPNGS) - Papua New Guinea Defence Force[http://www.awm.gov.au/glossary/result.asp?browse=h Australian War Memorial Glossary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606222230/http://awm.gov.au/glossary/result.asp?browse=h |date=2007-06-06 }}
  • Jamaica: His Majesty's Jamaican Ship (HMJS) – Jamaica Defence Force{{cite web|url=http://www.jdfmil.org/overview/bases/bases_home6.html |title=Jamaica Defence Force - Bases |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601163032/http://www.jdfmil.org/overview/bases/bases_home6.html |archive-date=June 1, 2007 }}[https://books.google.com/books?id=EfNFAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Her+Majesty%27s+Jamaica+Ship%22++ Port Bustamante Handbook], Shipping Association of Jamaica and the Port Authority of Jamaica, 1978, page 21
  • Tuvalu: His Majesty's Tuvalu State Ship (HMTSS){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ow-AQAAIAAJ&q=%22Her+Majesty%27s+Tuvalu+Surveillance+Ship%22|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=2002|page=848|isbn=978-1-55750-242-1}}

==Former==

  • Colonial: Her Majesty's Colonial Ship (HMCS)[https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/things/hmcs-protector HMCS Protector] SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  • Australia: Commonwealth Naval Ship (CNS){{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/2001/10_15_01/story22.htm|title=Foundation Day oration}}[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%253A%252F%252FCAS.AWM.GOV.AU%252FPROD%252FGL.ACCEPT_LOGIN%253FSCREEN_NAME%253DCAS_SEARCH_PKG.PR_SEARCH_BY_LINK%2526SCREEN_PARMS%253DACID%257EPS_QUERY_TYPE%253DACCNUM%257EPS_QUERY%253DH12191%257EPS_REFERRER%253DOAI%253AAWM%253A325142%252F859841%2526SCREEN_TYPE%253DBOTTOM Port-side view of the former South Australian Colonial gunboat HMAS (ex HMS, ex HMCS) Protector; 1918] (National Library of Australia) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209195419/http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%3A//CAS.AWM.GOV.AU/PROD/GL.ACCEPT_LOGIN?SCREEN_NAME=CAS_SEARCH_PKG.PR_SEARCH_BY_LINK&SCREEN_PARMS=ACID~PS_QUERY_TYPE%3DACCNUM~PS_QUERY%3DH12191~PS_REFERRER%3DOAI%3AAWM%3A325142%2F859841&SCREEN_TYPE=BOTTOM |date=February 9, 2008 }}
  • Burma: His Majesty's Burmese Ship (HMBS)[https://books.google.com/books?id=EvAtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22HMBS+Mayu%22 Tapʻ ma toʻ rvhe ra tu, 1995 khu nhacʻ, Matʻ la], Commemorative volume for 50th anniversary of Burmese Armed Forces Day; comprises chiefly, articles about the Armed Forces, 1995
  • Barbados: Her Majesty's Barbadian Ship (HMBS) – Barbados Defence Force[https://books.google.com/books?id=WcsqAQAAMAAJ&q=%22HMBS+Pelican%22 Jane's Fighting Ships], Frederick Thomas Jane, S. Low, Marston & Company, 2010, page 61
  • South Africa: His Majesty's South African Ship (HMSAS)[https://books.google.com/books?id=3cMIAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22His+Majesty%27s+South+African+Ship%22&pg=PA282 War Department Technical Manual], Volume 30, Issue 410, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943, page 282 / ({{langx|af|Sy Majesteit se Suid-Afrikaanse Skip}}) (SMSA) - South African Navy
  • Ceylon: Her Majesty's Ceylon Ship (HMCyS){{cite book|author=Carl Muller|title=Spit And Polish|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7NlAAAAMAAJ&q=%22HMCyS%22|date=14 October 2000|publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-81-8475-109-3|page=107}}
  • Fiji: Her Majesty's Fijian Ship (HMFS)[https://books.google.com/books?id=HtNQAQAAIAAJ&q=%22HMFS+Ruve%22 Annual Report for the Year], Fiji Mineral Resources Department, 1980, page 20
  • India: His Majesty's Indian Ship (HMIS)
  • Queensland (before the federation of Australia): Her Majesty's Queensland Ship (HMQS)[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%253A%252F%252FCAS.AWM.GOV.AU%252FPROD%252FGL.ACCEPT_LOGIN%253FSCREEN_NAME%253DCAS_SEARCH_PKG.PR_SEARCH_BY_LINK%2526SCREEN_PARMS%253DACID%257EPS_QUERY_TYPE%253DACCNUM%257EPS_QUERY%253DP00444.129%257EPS_REFERRER%253DOAI%253AAWM%253A42945%252F1650272%2526SCREEN_TYPE%253DBOTTOM HMQS Gayundah (Aboriginal for 'lightning') and her sister ship HMQS Paluma ('thunder')] (National Library of Australia) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213074537/http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%3A//CAS.AWM.GOV.AU/PROD/GL.ACCEPT_LOGIN?SCREEN_NAME=CAS_SEARCH_PKG.PR_SEARCH_BY_LINK&SCREEN_PARMS=ACID~PS_QUERY_TYPE%3DACCNUM~PS_QUERY%3DP00444.129~PS_REFERRER%3DOAI%3AAWM%3A42945%2F1650272&SCREEN_TYPE=BOTTOM |date=February 13, 2008 }}
  • Victoria (before the federation of Australia): Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (HMVS){{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/national/sites/hmvs.html |title=Department of the Environment and Water Resources: HMVS Cerberus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210064740/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/national/sites/hmvs.html |archive-date=February 10, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/reserves_new/historyDocuments/The_Great_Gun.doc |title=Welcome (Royal Australian Naval Reserves) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013160952/http://www.navy.gov.au/reserves_new/historyDocuments/The_Great_Gun.doc |archive-date=October 13, 2006 }}
  • Pakistan: His Majesty's Pakistan Ship (HMPS){{citation|last1=Shukal|first1=Om Prakash|title=Excellence In Life|year=2007|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-212-0963-2|page=332}}

Denmark

All Danish Navy ships carry the ship prefix KDM (Kongelige Danske Marine) in Danish, but this is translated to HDMS (Her / His Danish Majesty's Ship) in English.

Germany

{{lang|de|Seiner Majestät Schiff}} ({{IPA|de|ˈzaɪnɐ majɛsˈtɛːt ʃɪf|pron}}; {{langnf|de||His Majesty's Ship}}; abbreviated to S.M.S. or SMS) was the ship prefix used by the Prussian Maritime Enterprise (Seehandlung), the Prussian Navy, the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) and the Austro-Hungarian Navy (Kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine). It was created by translating the British prefix into German.

It was sometimes also abbreviated to S.M. or SM (for Seiner Majestät) when a ship was mentioned by class, such as S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Emden ("His Majesty's Light Cruiser Emden").

Special forms included

  • S.M.Y. (or SMY) = Seiner Majestät Yacht ("His Majesty's Yacht") for king's or emperor's yacht
  • I.M.Y. = Ihrer Majestät Yacht ("Her Majesty's Yacht") for the queen's or empress's yacht.
  • S.M.F. = Seiner Majestät Feuerschiff ("His Majesty's Lightvessel")
  • S.M.H. = Seiner Majestät Hilfsschiff ("His Majesty's Auxiliary Ship")
  • S.M.W. = Seiner Majestät Werkstattschiff ("His Majesty's Workshop Ship")
  • S.M.U. = Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot ("His Majesty's Submarine", prefixing a number not a name)

Netherlands

International prefixes for ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy is HNLMS (His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship).{{cite web| url=http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php| title=List of Acronyms Preceding the Name of a Ship| publisher=Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots| access-date=2013-07-31| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201722/http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php| archive-date=6 July 2011}} The Netherlands navy itself uses the prefixes Zr.Ms. (Zijner Majesteits, His Majesty's) when a king is on the throne, and Hr.Ms. (Harer Majesteits, Her Majesty's) when there is a queen. This happens automatically at the moment of coronation.{{cite news | title=Defensieschepen worden meteen Zr. Ms. in plaats van Hr. Ms. | date=2013-01-29 | publisher=Volkskrant | language=nl}}

Norway

The Royal Norwegian Navy vessels have since 1946 been given the ship prefix KNM, short for Kongelig Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy). In English, they are given the prefix HNoMS, short for "His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship" (HNMS could be also used for the Royal Netherlands Navy, for which HNLMS is used instead). Coast Guard vessels are given the prefix KV for KystVakt (Coast Guard) in Norwegian and NoCGV for Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel in English.

Romania

Prior to World War II, the subsequent ousting of the monarchy of Romania on 30 December 1947 and post-war Soviet occupation, all Royal Romanian Navy vessels were given the prefix NMS which stands for Nava Majestăţii Sale which translates to His/her Majesty's Ship in English.

Sweden

In the Royal Swedish Navy, all vessels are given the prefix HMS (Hans or Hennes Majestäts Skepp, His or Her Majesty's Ship). This is true for both surface and submarine vessels.[http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Ordbok/?l=H Ordbok: "H"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812094737/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/ordbok/?l=h |date=2011-08-12 }} Försvarsmakten {{in lang|sv}}

Abroad, Swedish navy ships are sometimes given the prefix HSwMS (for His Swedish Majesty's Ship), to avoid confusion with other uses of the HMS prefix.

Thailand

In the Royal Thai Navy, ships with a displacement of 150 tons or more use the prefix เรือหลวง ("Royal Ship"), abbreviated ร.ล. meaning ships belonging to the Thai King. In English, the abbreviation HTMS or H.T.M.S. comes from the word His Thai Majesty's Ship.{{Cite web |last=SubLt.Wallopee |title=fcsorm |url=https://fcsorm.dyndns.org/fcsorm/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=fcsorm.dyndns.org |language=th-th}} For the name of the ship, it must be granted by the King.{{Cite news |title=Navy 'overjoyed' by frigate name change |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1607726/navy-overjoyed-by-frigate-name-change |access-date=2023-10-23}}

Tonga

In the Tongan Maritime Force, commissioned ships use the prefix Vaka O Ene Afio, abbreviated "VOEA", meaning "His Majesty's Vessel" in Tongan. The initialism is usually left untranslated in English.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Category:Ship prefixes