[6] The ship was powered by two geared steam turbines driving two shafts, fed by two Admiralty 3-drum boilers.

This machinery produced 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW) and could propel the ship to a speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).

[6] Two 4.7 in (120 mm) Mark IX guns were mounted fore and aft on the ship's centreline.

[6][7][8] The initial anti-submarine armament was small, with a design loadout of four depth charges.

[6] The ship could be fitted for minesweeping or minelaying (for which the aft 4.7 inch gun was removed, allowing 40 mines to be loaded) as well as escort duties.

[5][13] On commissioning, Londonderry sailed to her station as part of the Red Sea division, her presence on station being made more urgent by the ongoing Abyssinia Crisis caused by the threat of war between Italy and Ethiopia.

She remained based in the Red Sea until 1938, interrupted by regular maintenance periods at Malta.

[14] The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 saw Londonderry initially used for local patrols in South African waters, before deploying north to Freetown, Sierra Leone in October that year, carrying out minesweeping and local escort duties.

On 24 November 1939 she left West Africa for British waters, arriving at Devonport on 12 December when she underwent a brief refit.

[18] On 14 July 1942 Londonderry was part of the escort for Convoy SL115 when the sloop Lulworth detected nearby radio signals using her HF/DF gear, and on investigating the signal, discovered the German submarine U-130 and the Italian submarine Pietro Calvi on the surface, which both promptly dived.

Lulworth depth charged Pietro Calvi, forcing the Italian submarine to the surface, where she was badly damaged by gunfire and ramming.

[18] On 3 February 1943, Londonderry part of the escort for Convoy HX224, was attacking a suspected submarine contact when she was badly damaged by an underwater explosion, possibly due to premature detonation of her depth charges.

[18][13] Londonderry left operational service after VE day and was laid up in reserve at Milford Haven in May 1945.