Basilisk displaced at standard load and at deep load. The ship had an overall length of , a beam of and a draught of . She was powered by Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of and gave a maximum speed of . Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Basilisk carried a maximum of of fuel oil that gave her a range of at . The ship's complement was 134 officers and enlisted men, although it increased to 142 during wartime.