"Vendetta" was laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan, Scotland on 25 November 1916. The ship was launched on 3 September 1917. "Vendetta" was completed on 17 October 1917, and commissioned that day into the Royal Navy. The ship's name came from the concept of . The original ship's badge depicted a stiletto dagger pointing down at an angle, however, at a point after entering RAN service, the design was modified to include an arm, with the hand around the stiletto's hilt. The ship also acquired the motto ""Vindico"", Latin for "I Avenge".