Tourmaline was one of three destroyers ordered from Thornycroft in June 1917 with more powerful geared turbines than the majority of the class as well as design changes that improved seakeeping.

Launched on 19 April 1919, the vessel operated as part of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla serving with the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets.

Tourmaline was one of three S-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from Thornycroft in June 1917 as part of the Twelfth War Construction Programme.

[3] In a similar way to previous designs, Thornycroft also installed more powerful machinery to give the warship a higher top speed.

Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 29,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) in light load and 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) at full load.

A total of 250 long tons (250 t) of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

[7] On completion on 18 December that year, the ship joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet under the C-class light cruiser Castor.

After a period back in UK waters, when departing Portland on 17 January 1921 to rejoin the Fleet, the ship collided with the Yarrow-built S-class destroyer Turquoise and had to instead sail to Portsmouth for repairs.