HMS Racer (1884)

HMS Racer was a Royal Navy Archer-class torpedo cruiser built in 1884. These vessels were designed to operate as fast scouts and torpedo boat hunters, protecting larger warships from torpedo boat attacks.

Racer was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick. She was commissioned in 1884 and served primarily in home waters throughout her career. Her armament consisted primarily of six 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns, along with smaller quick-firing guns and torpedo tubes.

In 1896, Racer was assigned to fishery protection duties. This role involved patrolling fishing grounds to ensure compliance with regulations and deter illegal fishing activities. She remained in this role until being reclassified as a surveying vessel in 1903.

As a surveying vessel, Racer conducted hydrographic surveys, mapping coastlines and charting depths to improve navigational safety. She contributed to important nautical charts around the British Isles.

Racer was sold for scrap in 1911. While not involved in any major battles, HMS Racer played an important, albeit unspectacular, role in the Royal Navy, first as a torpedo cruiser, then as a fishery protection vessel, and finally as a surveying ship.