Stronghold helped to rescue the Supermarine Walrus from the battlecruiser Repulse, which had been sunk by the Japanese, in 1941 and, the following year, towed the destroyer Vendetta on the first part of the Royal Australian Navy vessel's journey to Fremantle.

On 2 March 1942, the vessel was spotted by a Japanese reconnaissance seaplane and attacked by the heavy cruiser Maya, along with the two escorting destroyers Arashi and Nowaki.

Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal loading and 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) at deep load.

The ship carried 301 long tons (306 t) of oil, which gave a design range of 2,750 nautical miles (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[4] The ship was designed to mount two 18-inch (457 mm) tubes either side of the superstructure but this addition required the forecastle plating to be cut away, making the vessel very wet, so they were not fitted.

The aircraft was initially accelerated to launch by the simple process of dropping a large bag of water off the side of the ship.

[10] The new catapult was used to test the more capable RAE Larynx, the first success launch taking place in the Bristol Channel on 20 July 1927.

[13] In 1938, Stronghold was equipped as a minelayer, capable of carrying thirty-eight mines as an alternative to the aft guns and torpedo tubes.

Stronghold took the aircraft in tow back to Singapore, the ASV radar mounted in the Walrus proving a useful security against submarine attack.

[16] On 16 January 1942, the destroyer formed part of the Far Eastern Squadron, or China Force, led by the light cruisers Danae, Dragon and Durban.

[18] On 3 February, Stronghold was tasked with towing the Royal Australian Navy destroyer Vendetta, which had been refitting in Singapore, on the first part of that vessel's journey to Fremantle.

[21] The destroyer spotted the Dutch evacuee ship Zandaam and provided essential cover against submarines until the heavily laiden vessel steamed off at speed to Fremantle.

Heavily outgunned, the destroyer sustained damage aft, in the forward mess and the engine room, which had to be abandoned.