The Japanese Navy also wanted a vessel which could serve for both coastal patrol duties as well as on inland waterways.

Saga was laid down at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on 7 January 1912, launched on 27 September 1912 and entered service on 18 November 1912.

[1] The basic design of Saga was modeled after her British-built predecessors, but with much larger dimensions and much more powerful engines.

She was propelled by two reciprocating engines, powered by steam from two Kampon boilers, driving three shafts, producing 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW) and a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

She was reassigned to the Japanese Third Fleet from June 1931, joining the 11th Sentai in October 1937 after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the start of hostilities in the Second Sino-Japanese War.