 She was originally to be called "Taj Mahal", after the 17th-century mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal in Agra.She was laid down in April 1927, launched in September 1928 and completed in March 1929.She cost £1,090,987

She had six water-tube boilers with a combined heating surface of that supplied steam at 400 lbf/in2 to two turbo generators.