HMS Speedy (1893)

Speedy was subject to extensive tests of her boilers, which proved successful, demonstrating the reliability and performance of water-tube boilers, helping to pave the way for more widespread use of these boilers by the Royal Navy.^[8][9]

In August 1894 Speedy took part in that year's Naval Manoeuvres,^[10] In January 1896 Speedy served as despatch vessel to the Channel Squadron,^[11] and in July 1896 again took part in the Manoeuvres,^[12] On 26 June 1897 Speedy was present at the Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead,^[13] following that by taking part in the Naval Manoeuvres that July.^[14]

In 1898, Speedy was deployed to Gibraltar, but was forced to return to Britain to have her boilers re-tubed after suffering problems on the journey out.^[15] She later returned to the Mediterranean, where she stayed until returning to Home waters in 1905.^[16] From November that year to late January 1903 she travelled to Port Said and through the Suez Canal for a visit to Suez, Suakin, Perim, Hodeida and Aden.^[17][18] She was back at Malta where she paid off on 4 February 1903, then recommissioned the following day.^[19]

In 1906 Speedy was deployed on Coastguard duties at Harwich, and collided with a merchant ship in June that year.^[20] Speedy joined the Home Fleet in 1907,^[20] and in 1909 was attached to the Nore destroyer flotilla.^[21]

Speedy was converted to a minesweeper in 1909,^[20] which involved removing the torpedo tubes.^[22] She had her boilers re-tubed in 1911,^[23] rejoining the Nore division of the Home Fleet after this refit was complete.^[24]

On 19 August 1914, the destroyer Orwell, part of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla, reported being chased by a three-funnelled enemy cruiser of the Königsberg-class or Dresden-class off the Outer Dowsing. After investigation, it was found that the "hostile cruiser" was in fact Speedy.^[25]

On the night of 25 August 1914, the German minelayer Nautilus, accompanied by the light cruiser Mainz and the torpedo-boats of the 3rd Half Flotilla, laid a minefield off the mouth of the Humber estuary, while Albatross laid another minefield off the River Tyne. When the minefield was discovered, Speedy and the gunboat Spanker were ordered to clear the minefield off the Humber.^[26] On 2 September 1914, Speedy accompanied the drifter Eyrie and two other trawlers to sweep the Humber minefield when Eyrie struck a mine and sunk, killing six of her crew.^[27][28] The next day, Speedy and the drifters Lindsell, Wishful and Achievable were again sweeping the Humber field when Lindsell struck a mine and sank, killing five. Speedy lowered boats to rescue the survivors of Lindsell's crew, but struck a mine herself, sinking an hour later. One of Speedy's crew was killed.^[27][29][20] The loss of three minesweepers in two days resulted in the Admiralty changing its policy on dealing with minefields – rather than clearing entire minefields, clear channels would be swept through minefields to give a safe route for shipping.^[30][31]

• Brassey, T. A., ed. (1895). The Naval Annual 1895. Portsmouth, UK: J Griffin and Co.
• Brassey, T. A., ed. (1897). The Naval Annual 1897. Portsmouth, UK: J Griffin and Co.
• Brassey, T. A., ed. (1898). The Naval Annual 1898. Portsmouth, UK: J Griffin and Co.
• Brassey, T. A., ed. (1902). The Naval Annual 1902. Portsmouth, UK: J Griffin and Co.
• Brassey, T. A., ed. (1905). The Naval Annual 1905. Portsmouth, UK: J Griffin and Co.
• Brown, D. K. (2003). Warrior to Dreadnought: Warship Development 1860–1905. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-84067-5292.
• Brown, Les (2023). Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-3990-2285-9.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 9781861762818.
• Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
• Dittmar, F. J.; Colledge, J. J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7.
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
• Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• "H.M.S. Speedy". The Engineer. 10 November 1893. p. 439. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
• Kemp, Paul (1999). The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1567-6.
• Monograph No. 7: The Patrol Flotillas at the Commencement of the War (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. III. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1921. pp. 71–107.
• Monograph No. 23: Home Waters Part I: From the Outbreak of War to 27 August 1914 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. X. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1924.
• Monograph No. 24: Home Waters Part II: September and October 1914 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XI. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1924.