Ursa Major do not have long tails, and Jewish astronomers considered Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid instead to be three cubs following their mother, while the Native Americans saw them as three hunters. Noted children's book author H. A. Rey, in his 1952 book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them," () had a different asterism in mind for Ursa Major, that instead had the "bear" image of the constellation oriented with Alkaid as the tip of the bear's nose, and the "handle" of the Big Dipper part of the constellation forming the outline of the top of the bear's head and
HMS Ursa (R22) refitted for service in the Far East and joined the British Pacific Fleet where she served until 1945. She then returned to the United Kingdom and paid off in 1946. During the War "Ursa" was adopted by the Borough of Hendon as part of "Warship Week". The plaque from this adoption is held by the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth. After the Second World War "Ursa" went into reserve at Portsmouth, transferring to the Chatham reserve in 1952. During 1953 and 1954 "Ursa" was converted to a Type 15 anti-submarine frigate with the new pennant number F200.