HMS Sandfly (1911)

HMS Sandfly was an Insect-class gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched in 1911. These gunboats were specifically designed for service on rivers and in shallow coastal waters, and the Insect class, sometimes referred to as "Large China Gunboats", were built to a relatively large size to allow them to operate more effectively further out to sea than their smaller counterparts.

HMS Sandfly saw service in various locations throughout her career, often deployed to regions where British interests required naval presence. Her role typically involved patrolling, providing support for land operations, and generally maintaining order. She was armed with a pair of 6-inch guns and several smaller weapons.

A defining aspect of HMS Sandfly and her sister ships was their shallow draft, a key feature for navigating rivers like the Yangtze. This shallow draft allowed her to access areas larger warships could not reach, making her invaluable for projecting British power and influence in these regions.

The career of HMS Sandfly encompassed a period of significant global upheaval, including World War I. While precise details of her activities during the war require further specific research, it is reasonable to assume she played a role in coastal defense and maintaining maritime security in her designated areas of operation.

The fate of HMS Sandfly following her active service is a matter for further research, though it is likely she was decommissioned and scrapped at some point after World War I. Records of her specific operational history and final disposition may be found in naval archives.