HMS Afridi was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, launched in 1907 and decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1919. Constructed by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick, the ship was part of the 1905–06 naval expansion program, with design specifications left largely to the builder, subject to Admiralty approval. Afridi measured approximately 250 feet in length with a beam of around 26 feet, and was powered by five Yarrow water-tube boilers feeding Parsons Marine Steam turbines rated at 14,250 shp, which drove three propeller shafts. The vessel was designed to reach speeds of 33 knots, a performance it achieved in trials by February 1909 after initial delays. The armament configuration initially included two 12-pounder guns and two 18-inch torpedo tubes, later reinforced by an additional two 12-pounder guns prior to commissioning. During her construction, her armament was upgraded to two 4.7-inch guns, reflecting the recognition of the original armament's insufficiency. Afridi’s trials encountered turbine and propeller issues, but she ultimately met her contractual speed. Commissioned on 10 September 1909, Afridi served initially with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, later joining the 4th Flotilla at Portsmouth, and finally the 6th Flotilla based at Dover. During World War I, she participated in the Dover Patrol, operating in the North Sea and English Channel. Afridi’s service included anti-submarine operations, notably deploying explosive sweeps that are believed to have contributed to the destruction of the German U-boat SM UB-13 in April 1916. She also participated in rescue efforts following the sinking of the ferry Sussex in 1916. In 1917, Afridi’s armament was upgraded to two 4.7-inch guns and added anti-aircraft weaponry, including a pom-pom autocannon. She took part in the April 1917 attack on Ostend, escorting blockships intended to block the port, though the operation was only partially successful. After the war, Afridi was offered for sale and dismantled, ultimately being sunk as a target in 1930. Her service exemplifies the evolution of early 20th-century destroyers and their role in naval warfare during World War I.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.