HMS Bat (1896)

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HMS Bat was a Star class destroyer later called C class destroyers, of the Royal Navy launched on October 7, 1896 and completed in August 1897.

The ship was built by Palmers and was one of six of this type constructed by the firm. It displaced 390 tons light (440 full) and its triple expansion engines developed 6,200 ihp, which gave it a top speed of 30 knots. It had a normal crew of 63 and an armament of 1 12-pdr. and 5 6-pdr. guns and had 2 18-inch torpedo tubes. The Palmers ships were regarded as a success, keeping their speed well and being very manoeuvrable. They were wet forward, though.

The dimensions of the ship were 220 ft. overall length, 20.5 ft. width, and it drew 7'10" 0f water.

Bat was the ship of Roger Keyes when he pioneered aggressive new tactics for destroyers in the period 1901 to 1903. At that point it was part of the Devonport Destroyer Flotilla. Bat served mainly in home waters, but spent some time in the Mediterranean.

By the time of World War I Bat was obsolescent, but performed useful service on coastal patrol around the British Isles.

Bat was sold and broken up in 1919.