After meeting Horatio Nelson aboard HMS Lowestoffe and serving in HMS Bristol, Collingwood succeeded Nelson in command of the brig HMS Badger in 1779. Several officers who later became prominent received an early command in ships of that name, giving Badger a reputation as a Royal Navy proving ground. Similar traditions can gather around other names that the service uses repeatedly. The Type 22 frigate programme used many B-names but never commissioned a Badger, missing an opportunity to continue the association. This is a naming pattern and service tradition rather than evidence of a formal assignment policy.
Notable Point · 13:12-15:30
HMS Badger as a proving command
Collingwood's first independent command prompts a look at the recurring use of HMS Badger for officers who later reached senior rank.