HMS Cygnet was a two funnel, 30 knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1896–1897 Naval Estimates.

She was laid down as yard number 320 on 25 September 1896, at the John I Thornycroft and Company shipyard at Chiswick on the River Thames.

[8] In early January 1903 she was on the Mediterranean and took part in a three-weeks cruise with other ships of the station in the Greek islands around Corfu.

After 30 September 1913, she was known as a D-class destroyer and had the letter ‘D’ painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.

[10] In August 1914, found her in active commission at The Nore Local Flotilla based at Sheerness tendered to HMS Actaeon, the gunnery school.