Ordered as part of the 1893–1894 Naval Programme, the Rocket-class torpedo boat destroyers were J & G Thompson's first such ships.

The engines developed a total of 4,100 indicated horsepower (3,100 kW) and were intended to give a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).

[3] The Rocket-class ships carried a maximum of 75 long tons (76 t) of coal that gave them a range of 1,445 nautical miles (2,676 km; 1,663 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).

[4] Shark was laid down by J & G Thompson at its Clydebank shipyard on 14 February 1894, launched on 22 September and completed in July 1895.

She was assigned to the Devonport instructional flotilla, when she was transferred in early February 1900 to become tender to HMS Cambridge, gunnery school ship off Plymouth.