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Twelve ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Thetis, named after the sea-nymph in Greek mythology:

• The first Thetis was a 22-gun storeship launched in 1717.
• The second Thetis was a 44-gun ship of the fifth-rate; 720 tons; 250 men. Built at Liverpool; launched April 15, 1747 and sold June 9, 1767. On July 14, 1761, captured the French man-of-war Bouffone (32 guns).
• The third Thetis was a 32-gun ship of the fifth-rate; 685 tons; 220 men. Built at Bucler's Hard; launched November 2, 1773 and wrecked off St Lucia on May 12, 1781.
• The fourth Thetis (1782) was a 38-gun fifth-rate; 700 tons; 38 guns; 238 men. Built on the River Thames; launched September 23, 1782. In 1795 captured the French storeships Prevoyante and Raison; in 1801 took part in Keith's expedition to Egypt; in 1809 assisted in cutting out the French man-of-war Nisus (16 guns) at Guadaloupe, and took part in the storming of the batteries at Anse-le-Barque; in 1810 took part in the capture of Guadaloupe. Sold June 9, 1814.
• The fifth Thetis was a 24-gun sixth-rate launched in 1796.
• The sixth Thetis was an 8-gun schooner purchased in 1796.
• The seventh Thetis was a 10-gun gun-brig launched in 1810.
• The eighth Thetis was a 46-gun fifth-rate launched in 1817 and wrecked off Cape Frio in 1830.
• The ninth Thetis was a 36-gun fifth-rate launched in 1846 and transferred to Prussia in 1855.
• The tenth Thetis was a Briton-class wooden screw corvette, launched in 1871 and sold in 1887.
• The eleventh Thetis, launched in 1890, was an Apollo-class second class protected cruiser. She was sunk in 1918 as a blockship at Zeebrugge.
• The twelfth Thetis (N25), launched in 1938, was a T-class submarine. She sank during trials but was salvaged and recommissioned as Thunderbolt. She was sunk on 14 March 1943 north of Sicily by the Italian corvette Cicogna.

• Thetis Island

• J. J. Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, Greenhill Books, 1987.