Ordered as part of the 1893–1894 Naval Programme, the Hardy-class torpedo boat destroyers were Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's first such ships.[1] They displaced 275LT at normal load and 310LT at deep load. The ships had an overall length of 197feet, a beam of 19feet and a draught of 7feet. They were powered by a pair of triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a single propeller shaft using steam provided by four Thornycroft water-tube boilers. The engines developed at total of 4000ihp and were intended to give a maximum speed of 27kn.[2] During her sea trials Hunter reached a speed of .[3] The Hardys carried a maximum of 65LT of coal that gave them a range of 1270nmi at .[2]
The ships were armed with a single quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder (3 in (76 mm) Mk I gun and five QF 6-pounder Mk I Hotchkiss guns in single mounts. Their torpedo armament consisted of two rotating torpedo tubes for 18-inch (450 mm) torpedoes, one mount amidships and the other on the stern.[4]
Hunter was laid down by Fairfield at its Govan shipyard on 7 June 1894, launched on 28 December 1895 and completed in May 1896.[5] In 1896 Hunter was in reserve at Portsmouth.[6] In early December 1901, tender to, the shore establishment near Portsmouth, was damaged in a collision with a tug at Portsmouth. Her crew was transferred to Hunter during repairs.[7]
She took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.[8] The ship was sold for scrap in 1912.[9]