johnissacthornycroft18431928

Lightning, Second-class torpedo boat

from SMU Libraries Digital Collections

• L oso said:

  it's called "lightning?"

• SMU Libraries Digital Collections said:

  L oso Indeed! It was originally called the HMS Lightning, and later was renamed to "Torpedo Boat No. 1". It was eventually broken up in 1896.

• Colin Howell said:

  Odd that the photo caption identifies her as a second-class torpedo boat, because Lightning and her near sisters were classified as first-class torpedo boats when they were first built. At that time, the Royal Navy defined first-class boats as those capable of operating on their own from a harbor or coastal base, while the second-class boats, which were even smaller than Lightning, were designed to be carried by larger ships and lowered into the water when needed. However, I'd guess that the Lightning-type boats would have been demoted to second-class status as newer, larger boats came into service, and this photo may have been printed during that period, even though it probably dates from when Lightning was first built (she doesn't even have her torpedo gear fitted). Incidentally, though she doesn't look like much to modern eyes, Lightning was considered a very fast boat when she was built. She could outrun the fastest ocean liners of her day, and these were among the fastest ships afloat.