HMS Zebra (1895)

HMS ''Zebra'' was a "Twenty-seven Knotter" destroyer of the Royal Navy, later classified as part of the A Class. ''Zebra'' was built by Thames Iron Works and launched in 1895 as the fifth Royal Navy ship to be named ''Zebra''. Entering service in 1900, ''Zebra'' was sold for scrap in 1914.

Construction

HMS ''Zebra'' was ordered on 7 February 1894 from Thames Iron Works, Blackwall, London as part of the British Admiralty's 1893–1894 shipbuilding programme, one of 36 "Twenty-seven Knotter" destroyers ordered from 14 different shipbuilders for this programme.Lyon 2001, p. 19.Lyon 2001, p. 91.

These destroyers were not of a standard design, with the Admiralty laying down broad requirements, including a trial speed of , a "turtleback" forecastle and a standard armament of a QF 12 pounder 12 cwt ( calibre) gun on a platform on the ship's conning tower (in practice the platform was also used as the ship's bridge), with a secondary armament of five 6-pounder guns, and two 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.Lyon 2001, p. 20.Lyon 2001, pp. 98–99.Friedman 2009, p. 40. Thames Iron Work's design had three funnels, with the forward funnel widely separated from the other two, with one of the two torpedo tubes positioned in this gap. Three White water-tube boilers fed four-cylinder reciprocating steam engines rated at and driving two shafts.Friedman 2009, pp. 44–45.

''Zebra'' was laid down on 1 July 1894 and launched on 13 December 1895. Thames Iron Works was relatively inexperienced in building torpedo craft (it had previously built the hull of a single torpedo boat as a subcontractor for Maudslay, Sons and Field (who supplied the engines for ''Zebra'') and it took a long time for the ship to be completed and to complete trials (where she eventually reached the contract speed of 27 knotsBrassey 1902, p. 274.), not being accepted by the Navy until January 1900.

''Zebra'' was not particularly successful in service and no further orders for destroyers were placed with Thames Iron Works for many years.

Operational history

HMS ''Zebra'' served in British home waters for the whole of her career. In January 1900 she was employed as tender to the , special service vessel, for training duties in connection with Sheerness Naval School of Gunnery. On 17 October 1900, ''Zebra'' collided with the barge ''Emily'' off Sheerness, sinking the barge and damaging the destroyer's bow. ''Zebra'' rescued the barge's crew. The following year she participated in the 1901 British Naval Manoeuvres.Brassey 1902, p. 91. In March 1902 Lieutenant James W. G. Innes was appointed in command, but the appointment was cancelled and Lieutenant Wyndham L. Bamber was appointed in command the following month. She served in the Portsmouth Instructional flotilla in May 1902, and took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.

''Zebra'' formed part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in 1910, and in 1912. On 14 June 1911 the destroyer collided with ''Zebra'' during night exercises off the mouth of the River Thames. One of ''Zebra''s six-pounder guns and two of her boats were knocked into the sea, but no crew were injured. After repair, ''Zebra'' was attached to the submarine flotilla based at Dundee, relieving the destroyer .

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance. Like all the surviving Twenty-six and Twenty-seven Knotters, ''Zebra'' was assigned to the A Class.Gardiner and Gray 1985, p. 18.Manning 1961, pp. 17–18. The class letters were painted on the hull below the bridge area and on a funnel.Manning 1961, p. 34.

By March 1913, ''Zebra'' was laid up at Sheerness and listed for sale. ''Zebra'' was sold for scrapping on 30 July 1914.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zebra (1895)
Zebra-class destroyers
Ships built in Leamouth
1895 ships
A-class destroyers (1913)