Three Janus-class torpedo-boat destroyers (TBDs) served with the Royal Navy. Janus, Lightning and Porcupine were ordered under the 1893-94 Programme, all laid down on 28 March 1894 at Palmer's shipyard at Jarrow and launched during 1895. They displaced 275 tons (light), were 204 feet 6 inches (62.33 m) long and produced 3,900 hp (2,900 kW) from their Reed water tube boilers which gave them a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).

Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...

Class overview
Name	Janus class
Builders	Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Hardy class
Succeeded by	Salmon class
Built	1895
In commission	1895–1920
Completed	3
Lost	1
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Torpedo Boat Destroyer
Displacement	275 long tons (279 t)
Length	204 ft 6 in (62.33 m) overall, 200 ft (61 m) pp
Beam	19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m)
Draught	8 feet (2.4 m)
Propulsion	Reed boilers, 3,900 hp (2,908 kW)
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)

Close

Under the 1893–1894 Naval Estimates, the British Admiralty placed orders for 36 torpedo-boat destroyers, all to be capable of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), the "27-knotters", as a follow-on to the six prototype "26-knotters" ordered in the previous 1892–1893 Estimates. As was typical for torpedo craft at the time, the Admiralty left detailed design to the builders, laying down only broad requirements.^[1][2]

In September 1913 the Admiralty re-classed all the remaining 27-knotter destroyers, including all three Janus-class vessels, as A Class destroyers.

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