In 1888 the British Admiralty invited proposals for the design and construction of six first-class torpedo boats, Yarrow and Co. of Poplar responded by submitting designs based upon those of the very successful torpedo boat N. 79. The new boats being built by Yarrow and Co. embodied all the latest improvements and were130 feet in length and a beam of 13 feet 6 inches. They were built of galvanised steel, and propelled by 1,150 indicated horsepower inverted-vertical double-acting surface-condensing triple-expansion engines. The speed trials of all boats were conducted under Admiralty supervision and consisted of a three hour uninterrupted run with a load of 20 tons, the speeds attained varied from 22.5 to 23 knots.