Sunfish class destroyer

HMS Ranger
Class overview
Builders:	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn
Operators:	Royal Navy
Preceded by:	Handy-class destroyer
Succeeded by:	Rocket-class destroyer
Built:	1894–1896
In commission:	1896–1920
Completed:	3
Scrapped:	3
General characteristics
Type:	Torpedo Boat Destroyer
Propulsion:	Yarrow boilers, 4,000 hp (2,983 kW)
Speed:	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Complement:	53
Armament:	• 1 × 12 pounder gun • 2 × torpedo tubes

Three Sunfish-class destroyers served with the Royal Navy. HMS Sunfish, HMS Opossum and HMS Ranger were all built by the Hebburn-on-Tyne shipyard of Hawthorn Leslie. Ordered under the 1893-94 Programme, the contract was placed on 7 February 1894. All three "turtle-back" destroyers were laid down in 1894, launched in 1895 and completed in 1896. Powered by Yarrow boilers, the ships produced 4,000 H.P. and could make 27 knots. They were armed with one twelve pounder gun and two torpedo tubes and carried a complement of 53 officers and men.

In 1912 all three, like the other surviving 27-knotter destroyers, were re-classed as "A" Class destroyers. They served in Home waters throughout World War One, and all three were sold for breaking up in 1920.

They were also sometimes referred to as Opossum-class destroyers.

References

• Lyon, David (1996). The First Destroyers. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-005-1. 
• Manning, Captain T.D. The British Destroyer. Godfrey Cave Associates. ISBN 090622312X.