The ships were based on the British Admiralty type flotilla leader[a] design built at the end of World War I, with minor modifications.

[2] The Mendoza class were equipped with Parsons single-reduction geared turbines powered by steam provided by four 250 psi (1,724 kPa) three-drum boilers.

The ships carried 549 tonnes (540 long tons) of fuel oil and had a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

After all three ships had been accepted by the Argentine Navy, the three destroyers sailed for Argentina together from the United Kingdom, stopping only at Lisbon, Portugal en route.

[4] The class was discarded on 30 April 1962 and replaced with former United States Navy ships that were acquired cheaply.