The Arabis class was the third, and largest, of the five sub-classes of minesweeping sloops completed under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I. They were part of the larger "" shipbuilding project, which were also referred to as the "Cabbage class", or "Herbaceous Borders". The ships were also used outside their minesweeping duties as patrol vessels, tugs, and personnel and cargo transports.
The design for the Arabis class was made at the end of 1914. All 36 British vessels were ordered in July 1915, and were built in three batches, averaging 12 vessels. A further 8 vessels were later built in British shipyards for the French Navy. The design was highly appealing, as most shipyards were capable of building them, and construction could be completed in five months.
Like the preceding and -class sloops, these were single-screw Fleet Sweeping Vessels (Sloops) with triple hulls at the bows to give extra protection against loss when working. The strength of the hull was demonstrated when Valerian fought the 1926 Havana–Bermuda hurricane for five hours on 22 October, 1926, before being driven over by a squall and foundering off Bermuda. In his report to the Court Martial held at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, her Captain, Commander W. A. Usher, wrote"