HMS Desperate

Three ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Desperate, the adjective having the sense of "having reckless abandon in the pursuit of an extreme desire":

• HMS Desperate (1805), a 12-gun gun brig launched in 1805, converted to a mortar brig in 1811 and sold in 1814.
• HMS Desperate (1849), a wooden Conflict-class screw sloop launched in 1849 and broken up in 1865.
• HMS Desperate (1896), a Thornycroft two funnel, 30-knot destroyer (classified as a D-class destroyer in 1912) launched in 1896 and sold for breaking in 1920.

A further two vessels were ordered and later cancelled:

• HMS Desperate (1918), a Danae-class light cruiser ordered in March 1918 and cancelled in November the same year.
• HMS Desperate (1945), a Daring-class destroyer ordered in March 1945 and cancelled in January 1946.