Although fitted with multiple
torpedo tubes, her bow tube proved useless in practice as — while running at high attack speeds — the ship was prone to overtake its own torpedo. The clumsy tube also reduced living quarters and made the
bridge very prone to flooding.
Service
Decoy took part in the 1896 British Naval Manoeuvres, attached to the
Channel Fleet operation from
Berehaven in southern Ireland.[3] She served as instructional
tender to
Cambridge, a gunnery school ship, until August 1901.[4] Lieutenant Cyril Asser was appointed in command in February 1902, when she was based at
Plymouth as part of the
Devonport instructional flotilla,[5] and was succeeded by Lieutenant Henry Ralph Heathcote on 1 July the same year.[6] Heathcote transferred to
Contest the following month, and was succeeded in command by Lieutenant L. J. I. Hammond on 8 August 1902.[7] She took part in the
fleet review held at
Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the
coronation of King
Edward VII.[8] She acted temporary as tender to Cambridge again from late August, when her crew transferred to
HMS Ostrich, which took her place in the flotilla.[9] The following month she was reported to be back in the instructional flotilla.[10]
Decoy was lost in a collision with the destroyer
Arun off the
Scilly Islands on 13 August 1904.[11] while taking part in night exercises.[12] One man was killed while the remaining 40 members of the crew were rescued by Arun and
Sturgeon.[12] Courts martial regarding the sinking were subsequently assembled aboard the
battleshipConqueror. The first, on 22 August,[13] attributed blame to the commander of Arun,
Reginald Tyrwhitt. The second, an appeal, was held on 30 August,[14] and dismissed the charge of neglect but confirmed the charge of hazarding both vessels.
Notes
^British "18-inch torpedoes" were 450mm (17.72 inches) in diameter.
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