HMS Ghurka (1907)

HMS Ghurka was a Tribal-class (later known as F-class) destroyer built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1907 and commissioned in 1908. These destroyers were known for being larger and more powerful than earlier designs, reflecting the increasing naval arms race of the pre-World War I era.

As a Tribal-class destroyer, HMS Ghurka was intended for long-range operations and scouting duties. She was armed with five 12-pounder (3-inch) quick-firing guns and two 18-inch torpedo tubes. She was powered by steam turbines, giving her a speed of around 25 knots.

HMS Ghurka served with the Royal Navy throughout her career. She was initially assigned to the Home Fleet and later saw service in the Mediterranean.

On February 8, 1917, while patrolling off Dungeness, HMS Ghurka was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-48. The majority of her crew were lost.

A later Tribal-class destroyer, HMS Ghurka (F20), launched in 1937, was named in her honor, continuing the tradition of naming Royal Navy vessels after ethnic groups of the British Empire.