The Brazen class of 4 torpedo-boat destroyers were built by J & G Thomson at Clydebank in Glasgow, from 1895 to 1900.

They formed part of a general group of over seventy "turtleback" destroyers capable of 30 knots built around the end of the 19th and into the start of the 20th century for the Royal Navy.

The Admiralty had specified the general design and specification of the destroyers but left it to the builders to handle the detail.

As a result, although the destroyers were all similarly capable there were differences between them in terms of exact dimensions, type of boiler and engines and the number of funnels.

They were seaworthy and well built but suffered from being lively which meant they were uncomfortable in heavy seas.