She was the first Royal Navy warship with this name, after the Melbreak hunt in Cumbria.

[1] In 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Cockermouth in Cumberland, as part of Warship Week.

On 28 August 1944 she was attacked in the English Channel by an unknown aircraft, causing 20 casualties including five killed.

On 7 May 1945 Melbreak suffered considerable damage on grounding and was repaired at Sheerness.

W. Ward and arrived at their ship breaking yard in Grays on 22 November 1956.