HMS Leopard was a Vickers three funnel - 30 knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1895 – 1896 Naval Estimates.

[2] Leopard was laid down as Yard Number 254[a] on 10 June 1896 at the Barrow Shipbuilding Company shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness and launched on 20 March 1897.

Leopard was contractually required to maintain a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) for a continuous run of three hours and over six consecutive measured miles during sea trials.

[2] Leopard was commissioned by Lieutenant Alan Everett Hudson on 15 January 1901,[10] to serve as part of the Devonport Destroyer Instructional Flotilla,[11] later that year participating in the 1901 British Naval Manoeuvres.

[12] The ship was slightly damaged in a collision with floating debris in January 1902,[13] and was replaced in the Devonport Flotilla in March 1902.

[16] Leopard had her boilers retubed again at Portsmouth Dockyard in July 1908, missing that year's Naval Manoeuvres.

[18][19] On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance.