Acasta, originally intended to be named King,[1] was laid down at John Brown's shipyard at Clydebank on 1 December 1911, launched on 10 September 1912[2] and completed the following month.

On 16 December 1914 she was in the 4th Destroyer Flotilla attached to a battle group sent to challenge several German ships intent on bombarding the North Yorkshire coast.

In the same action, against at that time a superior enemy force,[8] Acasta was hit by two 5.9-inch (150 mm) shells from SMS Derfflinger, which left her with six dead[9][10][11] and one wounded, and unable to stop or steer.

"[15] Acasta was able to effect some emergency repairs during the next six hours, but broke down again and was eventually taken in tow by HMS Nonsuch and reached Aberdeen two days after the battle, so badly damaged she practically had to be rebuilt.

[17] After extensive repairs, completed by 2 August,[11] Acasta went back into service, joining one of the destroyer flotillas (4th or 6th) in one of the English Channel bases of Portsmouth, Devonport or Dover.