H.M.S. Ardent (1894)

H.M.S. Ardent (1894)
Builder:	John I. Thornycroft & Company
Ordered:	1893-94
Laid down:	Dec, 1893
Launched:	16 Oct, 1894
Commissioned:	30 Apr, 1895
Broken up:	1911

H.M.S. Ardent was one of forty-two "A" class destroyers built for the Royal Navy, a "27 knotter".

Construction

Ardent was launched on 16 October, 1894 by Mrs. C. T. Cornish, the daughter of John I. Thornycroft, founder of the shipyard.

She ran her preliminary trial at Maplin Sound on 9 November, 1894. She achieved a mean speed of 29.182 knots on a full power run. Boiler pressure was 210 lbs., mean revolutions 407 per minute.

Service

Ardent commissioned at Portsmouth on 30 April, 1895.

Even prior to her commissioning, the Admiralty had decided to sent Ardent to the Mediterranean to familiarize that station with the new destroyers. Ardent left Portsmouth for Malta on 14 May, 1895, stopping at Plymouth to join with second class protected cruiser Pique for the voyage the next day, on 15 May.

In commission with the Mediterranean Fleet in December 1905.

In commission with the Mediterranean Fleet in January 1907.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Commander Godfrey H. B. Mundy, 30 April, 1895 – 1 April, 1897
• Commander E. Hyde Parker, 1 April, 1897 – 1899
• Lieutenant & Commander Lawrence H. Richardson, 1 November, 1899 – 20 March, 1901  (died while in command)
• Lieutenant William D. Paton, 1 April, 1901 – c. late 1902
• Lieutenant & Commander Morris E. Cochrane, 10 April, 1905 – 5 June, 1906  (invalided)
• Lieutenant & Commander Nigel K. W. Barttelot, 2 June, 1906 – 18 July, 1906  (temporary)
• Lieutenant & Commander Arthur M. Stancomb, 14 July, 1906 – 17 September, 1908
• Lieutenant & Commander Herbert M. Denny, 22 September, 1908 – 23 September, 1909
• Lieutenant & Commander Berwick Curtis, 28 August, 1909 – May, 1911

See Also

• Wikipedia