Medusa (originally named Samos) was launched by the Scottish shipbuilder Fairfield in February 1915 and was completed in August that year.

[1][2] The destroyers were of similar design to the contemporary M-class being built for the British Royal Navy, with the major difference being a modified machinery arrangement.

The Swedish steamer Ostersund was stopped and sent back to the Humber as it was suspected that its cargo of iron ore might be contraband, but no German shipping was encountered.

[13] On 25 December 1915, Melpomene was one of eight destroyers from the Harwich Force that were ordered with the leader Nimrod to the Channel as a result of attacks by the German submarine U-24.

As there was no sign of the submarine by the time they reached Portsmouth, they were sent on to Milford Haven, where poor weather kept them largely confined to harbour.

[14] From 24 April 1916, the Dover Patrol carried out a large-scale operation off the Belgian coast to lay mines and nets, in an attempt to limit use of the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge to German U-boats.

[22] On the night of 22 July 1916, two light cruisers and eight destroyers of the Harwich Force set out on a patrol to prevent German torpedo boats based in Flanders from interfering with shipping traffic between Britain and the Netherlands.

[24][25] Seven German destroyers of II Flotilla[c] had set out from Zeebrugge on a mission to lay lines near the North Hinder light vessel, and at 00:15 on 23 July, Carysfort's group sighted the German force, which turned away and escaped under the cover of a smoke screen and a rain storm.

The German destroyers managed to reach the safety of minefields and coastal defences near Zeebrugge, and the British broke off the chase.

[30][31] On the night of 23/24 January 1917, the Harwich Force was ordered to intercept a German torpedo boat flotilla that was being transferred to Zeebrugge, with Melpomene part of a group of destroyers patrolling off the River Maas.

[38] On 8 June 1917, the patrol boat P.50 attacked a suspected submarine off Cap Gris-Nez with depth charges, bringing up large quantities of oil.

[40][41] Melpomene took part in the Raid on Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918, escorting Motor Launches laying smokescreens.

[44] Melpomene formed part of the escort force for this mission, which again was unsuccessful, with the blockship Vindictive not blocking the entrance channel to the locks.