HMS Skipjack (1889)

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HMS Skipjack (1889)

HMS Skipjack was a Sharpshooter-class torpedo gunboat of the Royal Navy. Built at Chatham Dockyard between 1888 and 1891, she later became a minesweeper and served through the First World War. She was sold for scrap in 1920.

Design and construction
- The Sharpshooter class was designed to be faster and more seaworthy, with a raised forecastle.
- Dimensions: about 230 feet long (between perpendiculars), with a broader overall length around 242 feet; beam 27 feet; draught about 10 feet 7 inches; displacement around 735 long tons.
- Machinery: two triple-expansion steam engines on two shafts. Initially powered by locomotive boilers, which proved unreliable. Trials gave around 3,600 indicated horsepower and speeds near 18.5–19 knots.
- Armament: two 4.7 inch guns (fore and aft on the centerline), four 3-pounder guns, and five torpedo tubes (one fixed in the bow and two twin mounts), with three reload torpedoes. Crew of about 91.
- Construction timeline: laid down 4 July 1888, launched 30 April 1889, completed July 1891. Cost around £59,531.
- In the early 1900s the locomotive boilers were replaced with water-tube boilers, increasing power and reliability. New machinery delivered over 6,000 ihp and about 21 knots.

Service
- 1897: Took part in the Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead.
- 1898: Refitted at Palmer’s of Jarrow.
- 1900–1901: Refit and improvements; served in Royal Navy maneuvers and as a tender to another ship in Kingstown.
- 1905: Placed in reserve; 1907 returned to active service with the Fishery Protection Squadron.
- 1909: Converted to a minesweeper; torpedo tubes removed.
- 7–8 June 1910: Collided with the Cross Sands light vessel; navigating officer court-martialed and reprimanded.
- 8 October 1910: Arrested the French trawler G599 for fishing in British waters; skipper fined.
- January 1911: Refit at Chatham; returned to North Sea patrols.

First World War
- At the start of the war, Skipjack joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow.
- August 1914: Minesweeping duties in the Pentland Firth.
- October 1914: Patrolled between Orkney and Shetland to protect a convoy carrying Canadian troops.
- Late 1914: Participated in mine clearance after the sinking of the battleship Audacious; Skipjack and sister ships helped in clearing minefields.
- 18 November 1914: Spotted the German submarine U-22 but the sub escaped after a chase.
- 24 November 1914: Spotted U-16; the submarine dived and escaped; not confirmed that Skipjack fired.
- 17 December 1914: Along with other gunboats, helped with mine-clearing duties off Scarborough after the bombardment.
- May 1917: Swept a minefield laid by UC-68 near the Clyde.
- July 1917: Part of the Second Fleet Sweeping Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
- 1918: Member of the 13th Fast Minesweeper Flotilla at Oban.

Disposal
- Sold for scrap to Hammond Land Foundry, Dublin, on 23 February 1920.

Pennant numbers
- P81 (1914–January 1918)
- PA3 (January 1918 onward)