As the First World War approached, the destroyer was based in Alexandria Egypt, but was swiftly redeployed to Malta, followed, in 1915, by action in the Dardanelles Campaign.

[1][2] The bridge was larger and higher than previous designs and the vessels were coal-burning after concerns had been raised about the availability of fuel oil in time of war.

Up to 226 long tons (230 t) of coal was carried, giving a design range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[16] Renard was laid down at Cammell Laird's Birkenhead shipyard on 20 April 1909, launched on 13 November and completed during September the following year.

[21] On 15 November 1911, Renard towed her sister ship Scorpion to port after that vessel had been damaged in a collision with the Danish schooner Fyn.

[33] The following day saw the destroyer again join other members of the class in escorting the troopship Braemar Castle, carrying soldiers to land at Kumkale.

Despite heavy fire, the ships achieved their objective in what Rear Admiral John de Robeck, commander of the squadron, described as "a most satisfactory manner".

The year saw an intensification of submarine action by the Imperial German Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and an increasing demand on destroyers as escorts.

On 24 July, the destroyer, as part of a small detachment that also included the monitor M33 and a minesweeper, escorted 172 irregular troops on a raid near the cities of Mytilene and Smyrna, the current İzmir.

[39] As the following year opened, the need for destroyer escorts increased dramatically as the German navy introduced unrestricted submarine warfare.

[41] In response, the Admiralty introduced convoys on major routes, including those between Malta and Egypt, although Renard was still called upon to escort occasional single high-value ships as well.

[43] After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war, the Royal Navy quickly withdrew all pre-war destroyers from active service.

As the force returned to a peacetime level of strength, both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.