HMS Itchen was a Laird-type River-class destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1901–1902 Naval Estimates.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by alpha characters starting with the letter "A".

After 30 September 1913, she was known as an E Class destroyer and had the letter "E" painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.

Here she provided anti-submarine and counter mining patrols in defence of the main fleet anchorage.

[5] On 6 July 1917 Itchen was torpedoed in the North Sea by German submarine UC-44 70 miles NNE of Peterhead, Scotland with the loss of 8 officers and men.