HMS Raven was a Banterer-class gunboat of the Royal Navy, built by Samuda Brothers of Poplar, London, and launched on 18 May 1882.

They were of composite construction, meaning that the frame, keel and sternpost were of iron, while the hull was planked with timber.

This had the advantage of allowing the vessels to be coppered, thus keeping marine growth under control, a problem that caused iron-hulled ships to be frequently docked.

[1] A two-cylinder horizontal compound-expansion steam engine by J & G Rennie provided 380 indicated horsepower (280 kW) through a single screw, sufficient to drive Raven at 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph).

Rein, and was paid off at Chatham 26 November 1901, when her crew was transferred to HMS Albacore which then replaced her at the Channel Islands.