Zagreb entered service in August 1939, was armed with a main battery of four 120 mm (4.7 in) guns in single mounts, and had a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).

A 1967 French film, Flammes sur l'Adriatique (Adriatic Sea of Fire), told the story of her demise and the deaths of the two officers.

In 1973, on the thirtieth anniversary of the formation of the Yugoslav Navy, both men were posthumously awarded the Order of the People's Hero by President Josip Broz Tito.

The endurance requirement reflected Yugoslav plans to deploy the ships to the central Mediterranean, where they would be able to cooperate with French and British warships.

[6][10][11] Her secondary armament consisted of four Škoda 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin mounts, located on either side of the aft shelter deck.

[15] Her launching ceremony was overseen by the wife of the Minister of Army and Navy[5] and a public holiday was declared to mark the occasion.

[13] At the time of the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Zagreb and Beograd were allocated to the 1st Torpedo Division headquartered at the Bay of Kotor.

[16] From the outbreak of war on 6 April, there were Axis air attacks on the ships and shore installations in the Bay of Kotor, but despite near misses, Zagreb was not hit by any bombs.

[17] The destruction of Zagreb was portrayed in the 1967 French film Flammes sur l'Adriatique (Adriatic Sea of Fire), which was directed by Alexandre Astruc, and starred Gérard Barray.

[20] In 1973, on the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Yugoslav Navy, the President of Yugoslavia and wartime Partisan leader Josip Broz Tito posthumously awarded both officers the Order of the People's Hero for their courage.