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The first ''Challenger'' was a 16-gun brig-sloop launched in 1806 and captured by the French in 1811.

The second ''Challenger'' was an 18-gun brig-sloop launched in 1813 and later used as a store hulk before being sold in 1824.

The third ''Challenger'' was a 28-gun 6th rate launched in 1826 and wrecked off Chile in 1835. Under the command of Charles Fremantle, it was responsible for the annexation of the colony of Western Australia in 1829.

The fourth Challenger was to have been an 18-gun corvette of 810 tons; the ship was ordered from Chatham Dockyard in 1845, but cancelled in 1848.

The fifth ''Challenger'' was a screw corvette launched in 1858, converted to a survey ship in 1872 in preparation for her famous voyage, hulked in 1880, and sold in 1921. The Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' was named after this ship.

The sixth ''Challenger'' was a "2nd class cruiser" (a protected cruiser) of the ''Challenger'' class in service from 1902 to 1920.

The seventh ''Challenger'' was a survey ship launched in 1931 and broken up 1954.

The eighth ''Challenger'', the RN's first purpose built ship for support of saturation diving missions, was launched in 1981 and sold in 1993.