A class destroyer (1913)
The
A class of 1913 was a heterogeneous group of
torpedo boat destroyers (TBDs) built for the
Royal Navy in the mid-1890s. They were constructed to the individual designs of their builders to meet Admiralty specifications, the only uniting feature being a specified top speed of 27 knots; all "27 knotter" vessels being classified by the Admiralty as the A class in 1913 to provide some system to the
naming of HM destroyers. The number of funnels varied from one to four. All vessels had a distinctive "turtleback"
forecastle that was intended to clear water from the bow, but actually tended to dig the bow in to anything of a sea, resulting in a very wet conning position.
They generally displaced around 260 tons and had a length of around 200 feet. All were powered by
triple expansion steam engines and had
coal-fired water-tube boilers (although initially, some had "locomotive type"
fire-tube boilers in lieu). Armament was generally one
QF 12 pounder on a bandstand on the forecastle, up to five QF 6 pounder and 2 single tubes for 14 inch
torpedoes. The
Daring and
Havock class ships initally had a third tube in the bow, fixed to fire straight ahead, but this was found to weigh down the bows and it was possible for the ship to run over its own torpedo when moving at high speed, as such they were later removed and this feature was not repeated in later vessels.
ex-
Ariel class;
*
Ariel, completed 1896, built by
J I Thornycroft,
Chiswick*
Boxer, completed 1894, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick
*
Bruiser, completed 1894, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswickex-
Banshee class;
*
Banshee, completed 1894, built by
Cammel-Laird,
Birkenhead*
Contest, completed 1894, built by Cammel-Laird, Birkenhead
*
Dragon, completed 1894, built by Cammel-Laird, Birkenhead
*
Ferret, completed 1893, built by Cammel-Laird, Birkenhead
*
Lynx, completed 1894, built by Cammel-Laird, Birkenheadex-
Charger class;
*
Charger, completed 1894, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Scotstoun
*
Dasher, completed 1895, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Scotstoun
*
Hasty, completed 1894, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Scotstounex-
Conflict class;
*
Conflict, completed 1894, built by
J S White,
Cowes*
Teazer, completed 1895, built by J S White, Cowes
*
Wizard, completed 1895, built by J S White, Cowesex-
Daring class;
*
Daring, completed 1893, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick
*
Decoy, completed 1894, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswickex-
Fervent class;
*
Fervent, completed 1895, built by
Hanna, Donald & Wilson,
Paisley*
Zephyr, completed 1895, built by Hanna, Donald & Wilson]], Paisleyex-
Havock class;
*
Havock, completed 1893, built by
Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd,
Scotstoun*
Hornet, completed 1893, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Scotstounex-
Handy class;
*
Handy, completed 1894, built by
Fairfield,
Govan*
Hart, completed 1894, built by Fairfield, Govan
*
Hunter, completed 1895, built by Fairfield, Govanex-
Haughty class;
*
Hardy, completed 1894, built by
Doxford,
Sunderland*
Haughty, completed 1895, built by Doxford, Sunderlandex-
Janus class;
*
Janus, completed 1895, built by
Palmers,
Jarrow*
Lightning, completed 1895, built by Palmers, Jarrow
*
Porcupine, completed 1895, built by Palmers, Jarrowex-
Opposum class;
*
Opposum, completed 1895, built by
Hawthorn,
Newcastle upon Tyne*
Ranger, completed 1895, built by Hawthorn, Newcastle upon Tyne
*
Sunfish, completed 1895, built by Hawthorn, Newcastle upon Tyneex-
Rocket class;
*
Rocket, completed 1894, built by
Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard,
Clydebank Rocket
*
Shark, completed 1894, built by Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard, Clydebank
*
Surly, completed 1894, built by Clydebank Shipbuilding Yard, Clydebankex-
Snapper class;
*
Salmon, completed 1895, built by
Earle,
Kingston upon Hull*
Snapper, completed 1895, built by Earle, Kingston upon Hullex-
Sturgeon class;
*
Skate, completed 1895
Vickers Armstrong,
Barrow in Furness*
Starfish, completed 1894, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furness
*
Sturgeon, completed 1894, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furnessex-
Swordfish class;
*
Spitfire, completed 1895, built by Vickers Armstrong,
Newcastle upon Tyne*
Swordfish, completed 1895, built by Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle upon Tyneex-
Zebra special type;
*
Zebra, completed 1895, built by
Thames Iron Works,
Bow CreekDestroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981, Maurice Cocker, 1983, Ian Allan ISBN 0711010757
