The Arabis class was a slightly enlarged and improved derivative of the previous Acacia-class and Azalea-class sloops.

[3][b] They were designed at the start of the First World War as relatively fast minesweepers that could also carry out various miscellaneous duties in support of the fleet such as acting as dispatch vessels or carrying out towing operations, but as the war continued and the threat from German submarines grew, became increasingly involved in anti-submarine duties.

[11][12] As such, Gentian's duties were mainly confined to keeping the approaches to Scapa Flow used by the Grand Fleet clear of mines, with daily sweeping of the prescribed channels.

[21] The intervention played a key role in enabling the establishment of the independent states of Estonia and Latvia[22] but failed to secure the control of Petrograd by White Russian forces, which was one of the main goals of the campaign.

[24] On 15 July,[c] four sloops of the 1st Flotilla, Myrtle, Gentian, Lilac and Lupin, were employed sweeping mines east of Saaremaa.

[29] In July 2010 an Estonian Navy minesweeper located the wrecks of Gentian, Myrtle, and the light cruiser HMS Cassandra.