The Redbreast class comprised nine first-class screw-driven composite gunboats built for the Royal Navy in 1889, mounting six guns.

The Redbreast class were designed by Sir William Henry White, the Royal Navy Director of Naval Construction in 1888.

[1] The hull was of composite construction, that is, iron keel, frames, stem and stern posts with wooden planking.

The class was fitted with a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine developing 1,200 indicated horsepower, sufficient to propel them at 13 kn (24 km/h) through a single screw.

The last five had an additional pair of 3-pounder quick firing guns in place of two of the machine guns.