She was named for Israel Pellew, who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

The turbine developed a total of 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).

[1] The Blackwoods had a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).

[3] The ship was named after Captain Sir Edward Pellew, later Viscount Exmouth.

Her peacetime role was the training of officers and ratings in anti-submarine warfare.