HMS Electra (1896)

HMS Electra was a Clydebank-built three funnelled 30-knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1895 – 1896 Naval Estimates. She was the fourth ship to carry this name since it was introduced in 1806 for a 16-gun brig-sloop.

In 1913 she was grouped along with similar vessels as a C-class destroyer

Construction
She was laid down as Yard Number 289 on 18 October 1895 at J & G Thompson shipyard in Clydebank and launched on 14 July 1896. During her builder’s trials she had problems attaining her contract speed. Her hull was lengthened by 4 feet then she made her contract speed of 30 knots; she was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in July 1900.

Service
After commissioning she was assigned to the Chatham Division of the Harwich Flotilla. She was deployed in home waters for her entire service life.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by letters. Since her design speed was 30-knots and she had three funnels she was assigned with vessels built to the same specification as the C Class. After 30 September 1913, she was known as an C Class destroyer and had the letter ‘C’ painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.

In 1914 she was in active commission at the Nore based at Shearness tendered to HMS Actaeon a Royal Navy training establishment. With the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 she was assigned to the Nore Local Flotilla. Her duties included anti-submarine and counter-mining patrols in the Thames Estuary.

In 1919 she was paid off and laid-up in reserve awaiting disposal. She was sold on 29 April 1920 to Barking Ship Breaking Company for breaking.