The Brazen class formed part of a general class of forty turtleback bowed destroyers capable of 30 knots built around the end of the 19th and the start of the 20th century for the Royal Navy. USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ...

The Admiralty had specified the general design and specification of the destroyers but left it to the builders to handle the detail. As a result although the destroyers were all similarly capable there were differences between them in terms of exact dimensions, type of boiler and engines and the number of funnels. They were sea worthy and well built but suffered from being lively which meant they were uncomfortable in heavy seas. Although specified for 30 knots this was with a light load and ins ervice 27 knots was the norm.

In 1913 all the three-funnelled destroyers were classified as "C-class". The Brazens were built by