[2] The T-class were War Emergency Programme destroyers, intended for general duties, including use as anti-submarine escort, and were to be suitable for mass-production.

[3][4] The T-class were almost identical to the S-class ordered as the 5th Emergency Flotilla earlier in the year, but were not fitted for operations in Arctic waters.

[7][8][9] The intended close-in anti-aircraft armament for the class was one Hazemayer stabilised twin mount for the Bofors 40 mm gun and four twin Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, although limited availability of the Bofors mount meant that Troubridge was completed with an additional two single Oerlikon guns instead.

At the same time, the relatively recent War Emergency destroyers, with their low-angle guns and basic fire control systems, were considered unsuitable for modern warfare, so it was decided to convert these obsolete destroyers into fast escorts, acting as a stop-gap solution until new-build ships, such as the Type 12 frigates could be built in sufficient numbers.

[13][14] The revised ships had a much reduced gun armament of one twin 4-inch (102 mm) anti aircraft mount aft of the main superstructure and one twin Bofors mount, but anti-submarine equipment was as fitted to the Type 12s, with Troubridge being fitted with two Limbo anti-submarine mortars, directed by Type 170 and 172 sonar.

[13][15] Troubridge was completed with a modified design of bridge to the other Type 15 ships, which was higher and had angled sides to improve visibility.

[23] In early 1944, the 24th Flotilla moved to the Adriatic,[5] with Troubridge carrying out bombardment operations against targets on the Dalmatian coast and the island of Korčula.

[21][24] On 15 August 1944, the Allies invaded the South of France, with Troubridge forming part of the screen for the Escort carriers of TG88.1, which were providing air cover for the landings.

[25] In September 1944 Troubridge, with the rest of her flotilla, returned to the Aegean, where they were employed in interfering with the German evacuation of the Greek islands.

[33][21] Troubridge recommissioned on 9 July 1957,[34] and in December that year she became part of the 8th Frigate Squadron for service on the America and West Indies Station.

On 29 May 1961, the Danish frigate Niels Ebbersen attempted to arrest the British trawler Red Crusader off the Faroe Islands for fishing in a prohibited area.

Troubridge and the British minesweeper Wotton then arrived on the scene, and after a consultation between the commanders of the four ships, the Danish boarding party returned to Niels Ebbersen, while Troubridge and Wotton escorted Red Crusader into Aberdeen, with Niels Ebberson following in nominal pursuit until the ships reached British territorial waters.

[41] At the end of October 1961, Troubridge, together with the frigate Londonderry and the survey ship Vidal, carried out relief operations in Belize following Hurricane Hattie.

Troubridge was the punning inspiration for the fictional "HMS TrouTbridge" in the long-running Radio Comedy The Navy Lark.

HMS Troubridge also supplied the landing crew which rescued the marooned children at the end of the 1963 film version of William Golding's Lord of the Flies.