On 25 March 1937, the British Admiralty placed orders for the eight destroyers of the J class, including one ship, Jersey to be built by J. Samuel White and Company at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

On 12 August 1939, Jersey joined the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet, based at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.

[3] Jersey was torpedoed off Haisborough Sands by the German destroyer Z12 Erich Giese, which was returning unseen from laying a minefield.

The destroyers Kelly, Kelvin and Jackal were left marooned in the harbour until the wreck was cleared.

[6] Further salvage and clearance work was done in 1968 to make the harbour safe for large vessels.