She laid over 15,000 mines during World War II and remained on active duty until she was sold for scrap in 1969.

She was powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 1,400 indicated horsepower (1,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 14.75 knots (27.32 km/h; 16.97 mph).

[1] During World War II she laid a total of 15,237 mines,[2] including two that sank the German destroyer Z8 Bruno Heinemann off the Belgian coast in January 1942.

[3] Near the end of the war, the German submarine U-325 struck a mine that was part of a minefield laid by Plover on the morning of 30 April 1945, 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of Lizard Point and consisted of 100 Mk XVII/XVII(8) mines.

[4] The ship was kept in service after the war[2] and took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.