HMS Lightning (1876)

HMS Lightning was a torpedo boat of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1876, she holds the distinction of being the first vessel purpose-built to carry and deploy self-propelled torpedoes.

Lightning was designed by John Thornycroft and built by his firm, Thornycroft & Company, at Chiswick. She was relatively small, displacing only 27 tons, and powered by a single-screw steam engine. Her primary armament consisted of two 14-inch (356 mm) Whitehead torpedo tubes, mounted in the bow, designed to launch the then-new Whitehead torpedo. She also carried a single machine gun.

The ship's design prioritized speed and maneuverability, allowing her to close with larger warships and launch torpedo attacks. While Lightning proved effective in trials and demonstrations, her limited range and seakeeping abilities presented practical challenges. She was also vulnerable to larger warships' guns.

Despite her limitations, Lightning represented a significant development in naval warfare. She pioneered the use of the torpedo as a primary weapon and influenced the design of subsequent torpedo boats and destroyers. She served as a prototype and testing platform for torpedo warfare tactics and technology.

Lightning was eventually sold out of the Royal Navy in 1896. Her career, though short, had a lasting impact on naval doctrine and ship design.