HMS Redpole was one of 20 Acorn-class (later H-class) destroyers built for the Royal Navy that served in the First World War.

Employed as an escort, the ship also undertook other duties, including rescuing the Italian destroyer Benedetto Cairoli in 1918.

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.

One of three in the class sourced from J. Samuel White, Redpole was laid down at the company's East Cowes shipyard on 10 December 1909 with yard number 1315 and launched on 24 June 1910.

[15][16] Between 26 and 28 May 1912, the destroyer visited Aberystwyth, the first time the vessel was known to have travelled to Wales, subsequently returning to the naval base in Portsmouth.

[6][19] On 28 August 1915, the flotilla took part in an anti-submarine patrol, accompanied by battleships and cruisers, but this was unsuccessful at destroying any submarines.

[25] After the Armistice, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and the amount of staff needed to be reduced to save money.