She was built for the Royal Navy as the S-class destroyer HMS Success, but was transferred prior to completion in 1943 to the Norwegian Armed Forces in exile.

Stord carried a maximum of 615 long tons (625 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

[citation needed] She played an important role in the Battle of the North Cape sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst.

[citation needed] On 28 September 2014, Håkon Nilsen (1913-1976), the torpedo commander aboard Stord during the Scharnhorst attack, was the first Norwegian war veteran who in recognition of heroic service was posthumously awarded the Arctic Star by the United Kingdom.

[citation needed] In 2015 another Arctic Star was awarded to Chief Petty Officer Arne Olsen (1917-1990) who saw active service for the Norwegian Navy.