HMS Hunter was one of three Handy-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the 1890s. Completed in 1896 she spent her career in home waters and was sold for scrap in 1912.

HMS Hunter
History
United Kingdom
Name	Hunter
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down	7 June 1894
Launched	28 December 1895
Completed	May 1896
Fate	Sold for scrap, 1912
General characteristics
Class and type	Handy-class destroyer
Displacement	275 long tons (279 t)
Length	197 ft 3 in (60.1 m) (o/a)
Beam	19 ft 5 in (5.9 m)
Draught	7 ft 6 in (2.3 m)
Installed power	4 water-tube boilers 4,000 ihp (2,983 kW)
Propulsion	2 triple-expansion steam engine
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	1,270 nautical miles (2,350 km; 1,460 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Armament	1 × 12 pdr (3 in (76 mm)) gun 5 × 6 pdr (2.2 in (57 mm)) guns 2 × 18 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes

Description

Ordered as part of the 1893–1894 Naval Programme, the Hardy-class torpedo boat destroyers were Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's first such ships.[1] They displaced 275 long tons (279 t) at normal load and 310 long tons (310 t) at deep load. The ships had an overall length of 197 feet 3 inches (60.1 m), a beam of 19 feet 5 inches (5.9 m) and a draught of 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 m). They were powered by a pair of triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a single propeller shaft using steam provided by four Thornycroft water-tube boilers. The engines developed at total of 4,000 indicated horsepower (3,000 kW) and were intended to give a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).[2] During her sea trials Hunter reached a speed of 27.2 knots (50.4 km/h; 31.3 mph).[3] The Hardy's carried a maximum of 65 long tons (66 t) of coal that gave them a range of 1,270 nautical miles (2,350 km; 1,460 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).[2]

The ships were armed with a single quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder (3 in (76 mm) Mk I gun and five QF 6-pounder (2.2 in (57 mm)) Mk I Hotchkiss guns in single mounts. Their torpedo armament consisted of two rotating torpedo tubes for 18-inch (450 mm) torpedoes, one mount amidships and the other on the stern.[4]

Construction and career

Hunter was laid down by Fairfield at its Govan shipyard on 7 June 1894, launched on 28 December 1895 and completed in May 1896.[5] In 1896 Hunter was in reserve at Portsmouth.[6] In early December 1901 Wizard, tender to Excellent, the shore establishment near Portsmouth, was damaged in a collision with a tug at Portsmouth. Her crew was transferred to Hunter during repairs.[7]

She took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.[8] The ship was sold for scrap in 1912.[9]

Notes

Bibliography

• Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M, eds. (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.