The Sharpshooter-class was designed under the leadership of William Henry White, the Director of Naval Construction, to be faster and more seaworthy than the preceding prototype torpedo gunboat, Rattlesnake and the three Grasshopper class ships, while carrying a heavier armament.

The ship's navigating officer was court martialed and convicted of negligently hazarding his vessel, and was severely reprimanded, losing three months seniority.

[19] On 8 October 1910 Skipjack arrested the French trawler G599, which had been caught fishing within British territorial waters in the Thames estuary.

[21] On the outbreak of the First World War Skipjack joined the newly established Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow in Orkney.

[22] In August 1914, the minesweepers attached to the Grand Fleet, including Skipjack were employed on carrying out daily sweeps of the Pentland Firth.

[23] In early October 1914, as part of expensive Grand Fleet operations to protect a large convoy carrying Canadian troops across the Atlantic to England, Skipjack was led eight minesweeping gunboats on patrols between Orkney and Shetland.

[24] On 27 October, the battleship Audacious struck a mine off Tory Island, north-west of Lough Swilly, and despite efforts to tow her to safety, sank later that day.

[25][26] As a result, Skipjack together with sister ships Speedwell and Seagull were ordered from Scapa Flow to join Leda and Circe in clearing this minefield.

The trawlers summoned nearby gunboats, and at 1 pm the next day, Skipjack spotted U-16, but the submarine dived to safety and escaped.