[10][11] She collided with the collier Belvedere on 8 November when returning to port from these trials, damaging her bows, and then ran aground on the Maplin Sands.

[1] Lightning took part in the 1896 British Naval Manoeuvres, attached to the Channel Fleet operation from Berehaven in southern Ireland.

[18] She underwent repairs to re-tube her boilers in 1902,[19] and was commissioned by Lieutenant Rowland Henry Bather on 1 August 1902.

[22] 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][24][25] Lightning, assigned the pennant number N.23,[25] was allocated to the Nore Local Defence Flotilla by January 1915.

Lightning broke in half, the bow section sinking, while the stern was towed back to Sheerness and later scrapped.