HMS Brisk was one of 20 Acorn-class (later H-class) destroyers built for the Royal Navy that served in the First World War.

The destroyer spent most of the war in anti-submarine warfare and was upgraded for this purpose with increasing capacity for attack with depth charges.

Pioneered by the Tribal class of 1905 and HMS Swift of 1907, using oil enabled a more efficient design, leading to a smaller vessel which also had increased deck space available for weaponry.

[4] The vessel carried 170 long tons (170 t) of fuel oil which gave a range of 1,540 nautical miles (2,850 km; 1,770 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[5][6] Armament consisted of a single BL 4 in (102 mm) Mk VIII gun carried on the forecastle and another aft.

[10] The destroyer was later modified to carry a single Vickers QF 3-pounder 2 in (47 mm) anti-aircraft gun and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.

[16] In August 1914, the Flotilla mobilised as part of the Grand Fleet and the destroyers were deployed to Devonport to undertake escort duties.

[20] For example, on 31 January 1917, Brisk accompanied SS Calgarian steaming to Halifax, Nova Scotia with gold, while 22 March was spent protecting the pre-dreadnought battleship Prince of Wales.

For example, on 18 April, the merchant ship SS Frankier was approached by the submarine U-84, which fired a torpedo that missed by 20 yards (18 m).

Arriving in time to see a periscope riding through the water, Brisk attacked with depth charges and drove the submarine away.

While providing an anti-submarine escort to the damaged armoured cruiser Drake, the destroyer struck a mine and had to be towed back to port by two trawlers.

[12] After the Armistice, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.