Over the centuries there have been many Royal Navy vessels which share the same names as motorcycles; HMS James, Invicta, Ajax, Minerva, Ivy, Indian, Montgomery, Quadrant, Raleigh, Dragonfly and Venom. There are many more and the connections are well worth exploring.
HMS Matchless was an M-Class destroyer launched in September 1941 and first saw active service on an Arctic convoy to Murmansk. She was tasked with escorting the damaged light Cruiser Trinidad which was being towed home. Stuka bombers attacked and set Trinidad on fire, Matchless rescued over 200 survivors then scuttled Trinidad by torpedoing her. HMS Matchless also took part in
