HMS Otter (1896)
HMS Otter was a Thornycroft type torpedo boat destroyer (TB Destroyer) built for the British Royal Navy by John I. Thornycroft & Company. Ordered under the 1895-1896 shipbuilding programme, Otter was launched in 1896 and served primarily in home waters.
Design and Construction
Otter was one of three "30-knotter" torpedo boat destroyers of a specific Thornycroft design ordered at the same time (the others being HMS Angler and HMS Ranger). These vessels were designed to be fast enough to intercept and destroy enemy torpedo boats, a significant threat to larger warships in the late 19th century. She was powered by two Thornycroft water-tube boilers feeding steam to two triple-expansion steam engines, driving two shafts. She was designed to reach a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).
Service History
Following commissioning, HMS Otter served primarily with the Royal Navy's Home Fleet and Channel Fleet. Her duties typically involved patrols, exercises, and fleet maneuvers in British waters. During her service life, she underwent various refits and modifications to keep her up-to-date with evolving naval technology. Early torpedo boat destroyers like Otter were notoriously cramped and uncomfortable for their crews, and the vessel's service was likely not without its challenges.
Fate
HMS Otter was sold for scrap on 11 July 1911. She did not see service in the First World War, as she had been decommissioned and disposed of prior to the outbreak of hostilities.
Characteristics (as built)
- Displacement: 245 tons
- Length: 175 feet (53.3 m) overall
- Beam: 18 feet (5.5 m)
- Draught: 5 feet (1.5 m)
- Power: 3,500 ihp (2,600 kW)
- Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
- Armament: 1 x 12-pounder gun; 2 x 6-pounder guns; 2 x 18-inch torpedo tubes
- Complement: 40 officers and men