HMS Violet (1897)

HMS Violet was a Doxford three funnel - 30 knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1896 – 1897 Naval Estimates. She was the seventh ship to carry this name since it was introduced in 1588 for a 200 ton vessel.

Construction
She was laid down on 13 July 1896 at the William Doxford and Sons shipyard at Pallion, Sunderland and launched on 3 May 1897. During her builder’s trials she made her contracted speed requirement. She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in June 1898.

Pre-War
After commissioning she was assigned to the Devonport Flotilla and spent her entire career in Home Waters.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by alpha 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
August 1914 found her in active commission in the 7th Destroyer Flotilla based at Devonport tendered to HMS Leander. She served there until September 1917 when she was sent to join the local defence flotilla at the Nore.

In April 1918 she was reassigned to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla and the Dover Patrol. She remained in this deployment for the duration of the First World War. Her duties included anti-submarine, counter mining patrols and patrolling the Dover Barrage.

Disposition
In 1919 she was paid off and laid-up in reserve awaiting disposal. HMS Violet was sold on 7 June 1920 to J Houston of Montrose for breaking.

She was not awarded a Battle Honour for her service.