HMS Tern was a river gunboat built for the Royal Navy by Yarrow in 1927.

The ships were protected by bulletproof plating to the bridges along with gun shields.

[2][3] After her construction, she was broken down into sections and transported to Hong Kong, where she was reassembled and launched.

On 11 December, she assisted in the evacuation of British forces from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.

[3][7] She was scuttled in Deep Water Bay on 19 December, to prevent capture by the Japanese.