[1] HMS Dove was one of two "thirty-knotter" torpedo boat destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from the Kingston upon Hull shipyard of Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Company as part of the 1896–1897 shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy, out of a total of 20 destroyers ordered from various builders as part of this programme, consisting of 17 "thirty-knotters" contracted to reach a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) during sea trials and three builders specials contracted to give higher speeds.

[7] The ship was laid down on 17 September 1896, at Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited shipyard at Hull, Yorkshire,[6] Construction was delayed by industrial action[12] and Dove was not launched until 21 March 1898.

[16] She was deemed fit for sea, and the following day was towed by the service vessel Seahorse to her home-port Portsmouth, where she was docked for repairs.

[18] On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance.

[23] In November 1914 Dove was one of 29 destroyers transferred to Scapa Flow for local patrols around the base of the Grand Fleet.

As a response, two Infantry Brigades were ordered from Liverpool to Dublin to reinforce the British forces, with Dove taking part in escorting the transports carrying these troops.