Ship Cover for the Rattlesnake class torpedo gunboat HMS Rattlesnake (1886) and Grasshopper class torpedo gunboats HMS Grasshopper (1887), HMS Sandfly (1887) and HMS Spider (1887).Given the very close similarity between the two classes and the chronological order of vessel construction, a large proportion of the papers understandably relate to the Rattlesnake. The documents as a whole include the original design proposals and justification (with particular reference to the role of these vessels as 'torpedo boat catchers'), trials reports for both classes, brief statements on coal endurance and ship fittings, crew complement details, details of tenders, statements of dimensions and weights, details of armament and ammunition allowance, reports from commanding officers on the classes sea-going performance, stability calculations, correspondence on the costs of labour and building materials, and letters concerning both the boilers originally adopted and Spider's later re-boilering. The last documents in the Cover are a brief precis of the design history and a 'sum-up' of the performance of the class in relation to the designers' expectations.The earliest documents date from November 1884 at the outset of the design process while the last is from February 1904, by which point only Rattlesnake was still in service.