It's long been a fashion some might say a tradition in the British Navy for it's ship's to be ornamented with a Badge to represent it's Name. Since the formation of  The Ship Badge's Committee in December 1918 every Badge that met Admiralty Approval  was officially signed and stamped as the Badge for that Name with a few exception's these official badge's still represent the name today be they be for a Destroyer, Aircraft Carrier, Submarine, Frigate or Establishment. Badge's like Names are subject to process, Controller of  the Navy, First Sea Lord, Defence Secretary, Monarch and Commodore Naval Ship Acceptance and are rarely cause of concern which in major come about from trend's and change within the British Navy.

With over 16oo Official Badges to choose from it's very rare for the MoD to commission a new name and badge.  The Admiralty's authentic badges were manufactured at The Royal Dockyard Chatham until it closed in 1984 manufacturing then moved to Devonport Naval Base.
All Official Admiralty Badges are Crown Copyright and Crown Property.

Above is Ruby's Replica HMS Hood Badge. The Badge was designed by Charles Ffoulkes and take's the name of 1st Viscount Lord Samuel Hood (RN) (1724-1816)  it bare's a Cornish Chough (proper) grasping an Admiralty Pattern Anchour (Gold) upon Blue. The Chough and Anchour form the Helm of the Hood Family Coat of Arms.

3 HM Ships have borne the name 'Hood' but only the 1916 Battlecruiser has worn this Badge, the 1859 HMS Hood had a Figurehead and the 1891 HMS Hood had a Coat of Arms on her Bow. The HMS Hood motto is 'With favourable Winds'.

For further information about the HMS Hood Badge click on FAQ's at   www.hmshood.com

 

 

For various reasons some British Navy Names have a second badge

Above right, is Ruby's replica HMS Iron Duke badge a Portsmouth based Duke Class Frigate . It bare's a Lion (Red) holding a St George Pennon upon a Crown (Gold) upon white.    Above left, often mistakenly catagorized as 'Unofficial' is Ruby's replica badge of  the 1911 Royal Dockyard Portsmouth built Super Dreadnought Battleship HMS Iron Duke. It bare's (Profile) His Grace, Field Marshall Arthur Wellesley (1769 -1852) upon Red.
3 HM Ships have bourne the name 'Iron Duke' which has the motto 'Fortune is the companion of Valour'

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Since 1918 over 20 names have a second badge.
Here are a 25: Antrim, Brecon, Britannia, Dartmouth, Diligence, Dryad, Electra, Fife, Gannet, Iron Duke, Kent, King George V, London, Matabele, Ramillies, Reclaim, Repulse, Rover, Tiger, Umpire, Upholder, Valiant, Vidal, Vulcan, Walrus and Zodiac.
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Many of the names taken from Greek Mythology were introduced by 1st Sea Lord Sir John Montagu (1718 - 1792) 4th Earl of Sandwich.