The entire class was built at the Thames Iron Works in the United Kingdom between 1906 and 1907.

Initially, the eight vessels were classed as river torpedo boats, and served as such during the First World War.

During their service, they showed considerable seaworthiness, as shown by their inclusion in the Soviet Black Sea Fleet in August 1944, instead of the Danube Flotilla (they would be returned to Romania in September 1945).

[3] This seaworthiness was also exploited by the Romanians, who fitted each of the three boats with one 300 mm depth charge thrower after the start of the Second World War.

The names of the three boats were Căpitan Romano Mihail, Locotenent Călinescu Dimitrie and Maior Șonțu Ghoerghe.