 "Opal" was laid down at William Doxford & Sons shipyard in Sunderland on 1 February 1915, and was launched on 11 September 1915.The ship reached a speed of during sea trials early in 1916, and commissioned in April 1916.On commissioning, "Opal" joined the 12th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Scapa Flow as part of the Grand Fleet.