HMS Ferret (1893)

HMS Ferret was a Ferret-class torpedo boat destroyer (TBD) of the Royal Navy. Built by Laird, Son and Company, she was launched in 1893 and served primarily in home waters throughout her career. As a Ferret-class destroyer, she was one of the earliest types of TBD built for the Royal Navy, designed to counter the threat posed by torpedo boats.

Ferret was commissioned into service in 1894. Like other early destroyers, she underwent trials and evaluations to determine her suitability for fleet service and her performance against the torpedo boats she was designed to destroy. Throughout her service, she participated in fleet exercises and maneuvers, patrolling coastal waters and contributing to the overall defense of the United Kingdom.

The design of the Ferret class was relatively small and lightly armed compared to later destroyer designs, reflecting the evolving understanding of the destroyer's role in naval warfare. Her armament typically included torpedo tubes and quick-firing guns designed to engage torpedo boats at short ranges.

As newer and more capable destroyers entered service, Ferret and her classmates gradually became obsolete. By the First World War, they were largely relegated to secondary roles, such as coastal patrol and escort duties. HMS Ferret was sold for scrap in 1912. Her service, though limited, contributed to the development and refinement of destroyer tactics and technology within the Royal Navy.