[1] Following commissioning, Carysfort worked up at Scapa Flow before joining the 6th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet.

[2] on 4 March 1945, she took part in Operation Judgement, forming part of the escort of the escort carriers Queen, Searcher and Trumpeter as their aircraft attacked shipping off the coast of Norway and at Kilbotn harbour near Narvik, sinking the submarine U-711, the depot ship Black Watch and a trawler.

[2][3] From June to October 1945, Caryfort was refitted at Devonport, having the ship's planned Director Control Tower fitted.

[2][5] She was modernised by Yarrows at their Scotstoun shipyard between 23 January 1954 and 14 December 1956, and then re-entered service as part of the 6th Destroyer Squadron.

[2] Carysfort served two commissions with the 6th Squadron, with the flotilla alternating between home waters and the Mediterranean.

Between November 1962 and May 1964 she underwent a refit at Gibraltar and then joined the 27th Escort Squadron and spent two deployments in the Mediterranean and Far East.