Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Dryad, after the tree nymphs of Greek mythology.
was a 36-gun fifth rate launched in 1795, sent to harbour service in 1832, and broken up in 1860. HMS Dryad was a screw frigate laid down in 1860 but cancelled in 1864. was a wooden screw sloop launched in 1866 and broken up twenty years later. was a launched in 1893 and renamed HMS Hamadryad in 1918 before being sold for scrapping in 1920. HMS Dryad was planned to be a light cruiser that was ordered in 1918. However, she was cancelled later that year before she had been launched. Three navigation schoolships have been temporarily renamed Dryad: was renamed HMS Dryad from 26 January 1919 until later in the same year. was renamed HMS Dryad between September 1919 and 1924. was renamed HMS Dryad from 4 January 1924 until 15 August 1924. The last was a stone frigate and home to the Royal Navy's Maritime Warfare School.
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