HMS Hardy was one of the two destroyers ordered from William Doxford & Sons on 3 November 1893 as part of the Royal Navy's 1893–1894 construction programme.

[2] The Admiralty did not specify a standard design for destroyers, laying down broad requirements, including a trial speed of 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h), a "turtleback"[a] forecastle and armament, which was to vary depending on whether the ship was to be used in the torpedo boat or gunboat role.

Sufficient coal was carried to give a range of 1,155 nautical miles (2,139 km; 1,329 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).

[9] She was laid down as Yard Number 226 at Doxford's Sunderland shipyard on 4 June 1894, and was launched on 16 December 1895.

[2] Sea trials were successful,[10] with the ship reaching an average speed of 26.8 knots (49.6 km/h; 30.8 mph),[9] and she was completed in August 1896.