In 1904 Brazil adopted an ambitious plan to renovate and modernize its Navy. The Naval Renovation Program was negotiated and enacted in December 1904 and envisioned acquisition of large number of vessels, including a dozen destroyers. In 1906 the program was modified reducing the total number of destroyers to ten.[2] These ships became known as destroyers.
The ship had an overall length of 240feet, a beam of 23.5feet and a draught of NaNfeet. She was powered by 2 triple expansion reciprocating steam engines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 6898ihp and gave a maximum design speed of 27kn. During the trials the contract speed was exceeded, and the vessel was clocked at 27.17kn. Steam for the turbines was provided by two double-ended Yarrow boilers. Amazonas carried a maximum of 140LT of coal that gave her a range of approximately 3700nmi at .
The ship mounted two 4abbr=onNaNabbr=on guns in single mounts. In addition, four 47 mm (3pdr) cannons in single mounts were deployed at the time of launching.
The destroyer was launched on November 21, 1908 at Yarrow's yard in Scotstoun with Senhora Gomes Ferraz, wife of Captain Ferraz, serving as a sponsor. The official full speed trial for Amazonas took place on December 29, 1908 on the Skelmorlie deep-water measured mile at the mouth of the Clyde. During a continuous three hour run with a 100 ton load, the ship exceeded her contract speed of 27 knots.[3]
Amazonas sailed from Glasgow on April 24, 1909, stopped off at Plymouth next day and had to spend six days there waiting for a good weather. From there she proceeded to Lisbon arriving there on May 6 and remained there for 10 days. From Lisbon the destroyer continued on to Las Palmas where she spent 6 more days, and then proceeded to St. Vicente. After staying in Cabo Verde for 4 days, the vessel left St. Vicente and after about 5 days arrived at Recife at approximately 14:00 on June 2, 1909.[4] The ship departed Recife for Bahia at approximately 16:00 on June 4, 1909 after re-coaling with intention of being put into drydock for repainting, cleaning and inspection.[5]