HMS Ostrich (1900)

HMS Ostrich was a Fairfield three funnel - 30 knot torpedo boat destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1898 – 1899 Naval Estimates. In 1913 she was grouped as a C-class destroyer She was the first ship to carry this name in the Royal Navy.

Construction
She was laid down as Yard No 413 on 28 June 1899 at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company shipyard at Govan, Glasgow and launched on 22 March 1900. During her builder’s trials she made her contracted speed requirement. She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in December 1901.

Pre-War
After commissioning she was assigned to the Channel Fleet. She spent her operational career in home waters operating with the Channel Fleet as part of the Portsmouth Flotilla.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed that all destroyer classes were to be designated by alphabetic characters starting with the letter 'A'. Since her design speed was 30-knots and she had three funnels she was assigned to 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.

World War I
For the test mobilization in July 1914 she was assigned to the 8th Destroyer Flotilla based at Chatham. Here she provided local anti-submarine and counter mining patrols.

In September 1914 she had been redeployed to the Scapa Flow Local Flotilla to provided anti-submarine patrols for the Fleet Anchorage until the defences of Scapa Flow could be improved.

By November 1918 she was assigned to the Nore Local Flottila and based at Lowestoft. Here she provided local area defensive patrols and escorting of merchant vessels.

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

She was awarded the battle honour "Belgian Coast 1914 – 17" for her service.