Launched in 1911, the ship served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, joining the Grand Fleet at the start of the war in 1914, and was transferred to Portsmouth in early 1916.

Pioneered by the Tribal class of 1905 and HMS Swift of 1907, using oil enabled a more efficient design, leading to a smaller vessel which also had increased deck space available for weaponry.

[4] The vessel carried 170 long tons (170 t) of fuel oil which gave a range of 1,540 nautical miles (2,850 km; 1,770 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[9] The destroyer was later modified to carry a single Vickers QF 3-pounder 2 in (47 mm) anti-aircraft gun and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.

Nymphe and her sister ships Acorn, Alarm, Larne, Lyra, Nemesis, and Rifleman conducted high-speed trials in the Atlantic Ocean off Berehaven, Ireland, on 1 July 1911 and all achieved 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) despite rough weather.

All suffered damage, however, and by the time they reached Portsmouth, England, on 4 July 1911, they all were leaking and had water in their fuel oil bunkers, requiring repair by divers.

[11] On 16 October 1911, a 6-pounder gun aboard Nymphe burst during night-firing exercises off Weymouth, England, slightly injuring one officer.

[11] At 10:30 on 15 October 1914, the Imperial German Navy submarine U-9 torpedoed and sank the protected cruiser HMS Hawke in the North Sea off Aberdeen, Scotland.

Nymphe and the destroyers Alarm, Lyra, and Nemesis put to sea that day to patrol in the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow.

Operating in heavy seas, she soon collided with Nemesis, and the fleet's destroyers received orders to return to port because of the bad weather.

In May 1916 she was serving as a temporary tender to the shore establishment HMS Vernon, the Royal Navy Torpedo School at Portsmouth.

During the night of 7–8 December 1916, she came to the assistance of the merchant ship SS Conch, which had been carrying a cargo of benzene when the German submarine UB-23 torpedoed her off St Alban's Head.

[11] On the evening of 18 June 1918, Nymphe became the victim of a friendly fire incident while on patrol with the destroyer HMS Defender in the Strait of Otranto.

Nymphe and Defender immediately flashed lights at the submarine chasers, which ceased fire, went alongside the destroyers, and discovered their identities.

Discussing the incident in a letter to the British Admiralty, the commander of United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, Vice Admiral William Sims, wrote: "While it appears that, under attendant circumstances, the commanding officers of the submarine chasers were justified in opening fire on the destroyers, I nevertheless wish to express regret that the incident occurred, and that H.M.S.