Three ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Dorsetshire, after the traditional county of Dorsetshire:HMS Dorsetshire (1694) was an 80-gun third rate launched in 1694, rebuilt in 1712, and sold in 1749. HMS Dorsetshire (1757) was a 70-gun third rate launched in 1757 and broken up in 1775. HMS Dorsetshire (40) was a County-class heavy cruiser launched in 1929 and sunk in 1942.