Eleven vessels, and one planned, of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Gloucester, after Gloucester, the city in England.English ship Gloucester (1654) was a 54-gun ship launched in 1654 and wrecked in 1682 off Great Yarmouth. HMS Gloucester (1695) was a 60-gun fourth rate launched in 1695, on harbour service after 1706, and broken up in 1731. HMS Gloucester (1709) was a 60-gun fourth rate launched in July 1709 and captured by the French in October of the same year. HMS Gloucester (1711) was a 50-gun fourth rate in service from 1711 to 1724. HMS Gloucester (1737) was a 50-gun fourth rate launched in 1737 and burned in 1742 to forestall capture. HMS Gloucester (1745) was a 50-gun fourth rate in service from 1745 to 1764. HMS Gloucester (1812) was a 74-gun third rate launched in 1812 and sold 1884. HMS Gloucester (1909) was a Town-class light cruiser in service from 1909 to 1921. HMS Gloucester (C62) was a Town-class cruiser launched in 1937 and sunk off Crete in 1941. The wreck site is a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act. HMS Gloucester was intended as a Type 61 frigate, and was ordered from Portsmouth Dockyard in 1956 but later cancelled. HMS Gloucester (D96) was a Type 42 destroyer launched in 1982, commissioned in September 1985, and retired from service on 30 June 2011.