During the First World War she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla and as part of the Dover Patrol.

It is assumed - though never definitely confirmed - that explosive sweeps deployed by Afridi were responsible for the destruction of the German U-boat SM UB-13, which on 23 April 1916 departed Zeebrugge for a patrol off the mouth of the Thames and was never heard from again.

[5][6] It was realised during construction that the armament of the Tribals was too light, with the two ships ordered as part of the 1906–07 programme being armed with two 4-inch (102 mm) guns.

[7][10] The ship's trials were troublesome, with propeller and turbine problems being encountered, with poor weather and industrial action causing delays.

[6][8] In February 1914, the Tribals, whose range was too short for effective open sea operations, were sent to Dover, forming the 6th Destroyer Flotilla.

[15] On 20 February 1915, the destroyer Viking spotted a disturbance in indicator nets in the Dover Straits, and signalled to Afridi to deploy her explosive anti-submarine sweep, but no submarine was found.

[20][21] While the attack on Zeebrugge was a partial success, the Ostend part of the operation was a failure, as the blockships missed the entry to the harbour and run aground, so that the port was not blocked.