Launched by Harland & Wolff at Govan on 10 February 1917, Sylph joined the Harwich Force and escorted merchant ships and convoys in the North Sea.

Sylph was one of 17 R-class destroyer ordered by the British Admiralty as part of the Sixth War Programme in July 1915.

[1] The design was generally similar to the preceding M class, but differed in having geared steam turbines, the aft gun mounted on a raised platform and minor changes to improve seakeeping.

A total of 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[4] Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the second and third funnels.

On 5 March, along with the M-class destroyer Minos, Sylph was escorting the fast steamer SS Copenhagen when a torpedo was spotted, which struck the passenger ship on the port side.

A confused fight ensued and Sylph narrowly missed the German ships, but hit the starboard quarter of the destroyer Setter.