HMS Electra was a Clydebank-built, three-funnelled, 30-knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1895–1896 Naval Estimates.

[9] The destroyer took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.

Since her design speed was 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and she had three funnels, she was assigned with vessels built to the same specification as the C class.

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

[11] In 1914 she was in active commission at the Nore based at Sheerness tendered to HMS Actaeon, a Royal Navy training establishment.