HMS Zebra was a "Twenty-seven Knotter" destroyer of the Royal Navy, later classified as part of the A Class. Built by Thames Iron Works in London, Zebra was ordered on 7 February 1894 as part of the 1893–1894 Admiralty shipbuilding programme, which included 36 similar vessels from various shipbuilders. Laid down on 1 July 1894 and launched on 13 December 1895, Zebra was the fifth Royal Navy ship to bear the name. Her construction was characterized by a design featuring three funnels—one forward and two aft—with a broad, turtleback forecastle and a standard armament comprising a QF 12-pounder gun on the conning tower platform, five 6-pounder guns, and two 18-inch torpedo tubes. Powered by three water-tube boilers feeding reciprocating steam engines rated at 4,800 indicated horsepower, she could reach her contracted speed of 27 knots. Despite her impressive specifications, Zebra's construction faced delays, and she was not accepted into service until January 1900. Her service was primarily in British home waters, where she undertook various duties including training, patrols, and participation in fleet reviews. In October 1900, she collided with the barge Emily off Sheerness, sinking the barge and sustaining damage to her bow, which she helped repair. She also took part in the 1901 British Naval Manoeuvres and the 1902 fleet review at Spithead for King Edward VII's coronation. Throughout her career, Zebra experienced notable incidents, including a collision with the destroyer Zephyr during night exercises in June 1911, which caused minor damage but no injuries. By 1912, she was assigned to the submarine flotilla at Dundee. In 1912, the Admiralty designated her as part of the A Class, a grouping based on speed and appearance. By March 1913, Zebra was laid up at Sheerness and prepared for sale, which was finalized when she was sold for scrapping on 30 July 1914. Her service, marked by operational exercises and collisions, reflects the transitional period of early British destroyer design and deployment.

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