HMS Royal Sovereign (05)

HMS Royal Sovereign (05) was a Revenge-class battleship of the British Royal Navy, built during World War I and commissioned in 1916. She was the lead ship of her class, which included HMS Royal Oak, HMS Revenge, HMS Resolution, and HMS Ramillies. The Revenge-class battleships were designed as a slightly smaller and faster alternative to the preceding Queen Elizabeth class, sacrificing some armor protection for improved speed and sea-keeping abilities.

HMS Royal Sovereign (05) served in the Grand Fleet during World War I, although she saw limited action. Following the war, she underwent refits and served in various roles within the Royal Navy, including deployments to the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

During World War II, HMS Royal Sovereign (05) was initially deployed on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic. In 1944, she was transferred to the Soviet Navy under the name Arkhangelsk (Архангельск) as part of a loan arrangement. She provided valuable service to the Soviet Northern Fleet, mainly providing a deterrent against German surface raiders and tying down enemy naval assets.

After the end of the war, the ship was returned to the Royal Navy in 1949. Due to her age and obsolescence, she was subsequently scrapped later that year. HMS Royal Sovereign (05) played a significant, if largely undramatic, role in both World Wars, both as a British vessel and later under Soviet flag.