The Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat was a class of torpedo gunboat built for the Royal Navy in the late 19th century. All three ships were scrapped before World War I.
Design The Grasshopper class was designed by Nathaniel Barnaby in 1886 and were essentially repeats of the Rattlesnake of 1886. They had a length between perpendiculars of , a beam of and a displacement of . They were engined with two sets of Maudslay, Sons & Field triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive boilers, and twin screws. This layout produced with natural draught and with forced draught, giving them a top speed of . They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about at and were manned by 66 sailors and officers.
Armament The class was each fitted with one 4 inch Gun and six 3-pounder guns. Two torpedo tubes and two additional 14-inch torpedo carriages. 4 reload torpedoes were carried.
Ships NameShip builderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFateSheerness Dockyard27 April 188630 August 1887July 1888Sold for breaking on 11 July 1905.Devonport Dockyard19 April 188620 September 1887July 1888Sold at Malta for breaking on 17 March 1905.Devonport Dockyard9 June 188617 October 1887December 1888Sold at Malta for breaking on 13 May 1903.
See also List of torpedo gunboats of the Royal Navy
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