HMS Gnat

HMS Gnat was the name of several ships of the British Royal Navy, derived from the insect, gnat. The most notable of these include:

• HMS Gnat (1915): A Gnat-class river gunboat launched in 1915. She served extensively in the Middle Eastern theatre during World War I, operating on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. She participated in several key battles and patrols in the region. After the war, she continued service in the region until being sold in 1927.

• HMS Gnat (T04): An Insect-class gunboat launched in 1929. This ship served in the Mediterranean and Far East during World War II. She saw action in the evacuation of Crete and later in the Mediterranean campaign, before transferring to the Far East. She survived the war and was eventually scrapped in 1955.

The use of insect names for gunboats, especially river gunboats, was a relatively common practice in the Royal Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often reflecting their role in operating in shallow waters and close to shore.