HMS Griffon was a B-class torpedo boat destroyer of the British Royal Navy, constructed by Laird, Son & Company in Birkenhead and completed in November 1897. She measured 218 feet (66.45 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 21 feet 6 inches (6.55 meters) and a draught of 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 meters). Displacing 355 long tons (361 tons) light and up to 415 long tons (422 tons) at deep load, Griffon was designed for swift operation. Her propulsion system consisted of two triple expansion steam engines powered by four Normand boilers, rated at 6,300 indicated horsepower, driving four funnels. During sea trials, Griffon achieved a speed of 30.11 knots (approximately 34.65 mph). Her armament conformed to the standard for 30-knot destroyers of her class, featuring a single Quick-Firing 12-pounder gun positioned on a platform that also served as her bridge, complemented by five 6-pounder guns and two 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. Laid down as yard number 622 on 7 March 1896 and launched on 21 November 1896, Griffon’s sea trials demonstrated her exceeding her contract speed, and she was fully commissioned by late 1897. Griffon’s service history began with deployment to the Mediterranean Squadron in September 1898, alongside her sister ship Earnest. She remained in Mediterranean waters into 1900, visiting Greek waters in 1902, and participated in cruises around the Greek islands in early 1903. She returned to British waters in 1906, and by 1910, she was part of the Nore Destroyer Flotilla, undergoing refits at Chatham Dockyard. In 1912, she was classified as a B-class destroyer, characterized by her four funnels and 30-knot speed. During World War I, Griffon was based at Scapa Flow with the Grand Fleet, conducting patrols and operations in the Irish Sea. Notably, she participated in a 1918 operation investigating a submarine sighting off the Lleyn Peninsula. After the war, Griffon remained active until she was listed for sale in 1920, and she was subsequently sold for scrap on 1 July 1920. Her service exemplifies the evolution of early 20th-century destroyers and their role in naval patrol and fleet operations.

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