Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson received an order for one destroyer, HMS Shark, to be built to the Admiralty design.

[1] Greater speed was wanted to match large fast destroyers building for foreign navies, while a larger radius of action was desired.

[7] Following commissioning, as with the rest of her class, Shark joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth.

[10][11] On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 4th Flotilla, including Shark, became part of the Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow in Orkney.

[19][20] During the Battle of Jutland, Shark was one of four destroyers from the 4th Flotilla assigned to cover the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron.

The other three destroyers escaped with little damage, but Shark was crippled by gunfire, having her fuel pipes and steering gear wrecked.

Jones and three seamen continued working the midship gun, engaging nearby German destroyers and leading to the sinking of V48.

[24] The German destroyers closed on the ship and returned heavy fire, during which Jones lost a leg.