HMS Kennet was a Thornycroft type River Class Destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1902 – 1903 Naval Estimates.

After commissioning she was assigned to the East Coast Destroyer Flotilla of the 1st Fleet and based at Harwich.

Kennet's rudder was damaged by the impact, while Leopard's hull was holed below the waterline when she struck the buoy.

During these exercises the cruiser Attentive rammed and sank the destroyer Gala then damaged Ribble.

On 30 August 1912, the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters, with the River-class becoming known officially as the E-Class.

[9] With the fall of Tsingtao and the sinking of SMS Emden, she was redeployed to the 5th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1914, accompanying Triumph, to support the Dardanelles campaign.

On 25 April 1915, she, along with Jed, supported the landings at ANZAC Cove as part of the 3rd Division’s feint attack on Bulair.