The ship escorted convoys and conducted anti-submarine patrols early in World War II before participating in the Norwegian Campaign.

Basilisk carried enough fuel oil to give her a range of 4,800 nautical miles (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[5] The ship was fitted with a Type 119 ASDIC set to detect submarines by reflections from sound waves beamed into the water.

[7][8] Basilisk was completed on 4 March 1931 at a cost of £220,342, excluding items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns, ammunition and communications equipment.

Basilisk's captain gained the release of Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell, a British zoologist resident in Málaga, who was arrested by Franco's troops due to his support of the Spanish Republic.

The ship and her sister Blanche were escorting the minelayer Adventure on the morning of 13 November in the Thames Estuary when they entered a minefield laid the night before by several German destroyers.

[16] Basilisk returned to La Panne to load more troops on the morning of 1 June and was attacked three times by German bombers.

The ship's torpedoes and depth charges were jettisoned to reduce topweight and the French fishing trawler Jolie Mascotte attempted to tow Basilisk.