The Rudyard Kipling was a British steam trawler launched in 1920 that undertook fishing operations off the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland for almost 20 years.

On 16 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, the trawler was captured 40 miles (64 km) west of Clare Island by the German submarine U-27.

Named the Rudyard Kipling by the ship's owner Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd., she was registered in the port of Hull on 4 February 1921 and completed later that month.

[2] In May 1934, the trawler was sold to The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd. On 10 May, her registry from Hull was closed and on 16 May, she was registered in the English port town of Fleetwood, where her new owners were based.

The trawler, under the command of Skipper Charles Robinson and with a crew of 12 men, was about 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of the Irish town of Donegal when U-27 came alongside and ordered them to pull over to the submarine and surrender.