HMS Fame (1896)

HMS Fame was a two funnel, 30 knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1894 – 1895 Naval Estimates. She was launched in 1896, served in Chinese waters for the whole of her life and was sold at Hong Kong in 1921.

Construction
She was laid down as yard number 306 on 4 July 1895 at the John I Thornycroft and Company shipyard at Chiswick on the River Thames. She was launched on 15 April 1896. During her builder’s trials her maximum average speed was 30.1 knots. She had her armament fitted at Portsmouth, was completed and was accepted by the Royal Navy in June 1897.

Pre-war
On 26 June 1897 she was present at the Royal Naval Review at Spithead in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In the second half of 1897 she was deployed to the China Station and remained there for the rest of her service life.

On 17 June 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion in China, she was involved in operations against the Taku forts and Chinese destroyers. This resulted in the capture of four Chinese destroyers including Hai Lung (later renamed HMS Taku). She was awarded the battle honour "China 1900" for her participation in operations during the Chinese Boxer Rebellion.

In July 1904, complaints from Vice-Admiral Noel, Commander of China Station, about the condition of his torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers prompted a review of his assets by First Lord of the Admiralty, the Earl of Selborne.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by letters starting with the letter 'A'. Since her design speed was 30 knots and she had two funnels, she was assigned to the D class. After 30 September 1913, she was known as a D-class destroyer and had the letter ‘D’ painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.

World War I
In 1914 she was assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the China Squadron tendered to the battleship HMS Triumph (1903). She remained on China Station for the duration of the First World War.

Fate
In 1919 she was paid off and laid-up in reserve awaiting disposal. She was sold in Hong Kong on 31 August 1921 for breaking.