early in 1917, the 9th destroyer flotilla was split up, with the newer destroyers joining the 10th destroyer flotilla, and the l-class ships being dispersed to different units, with "laverock" joining the dover patrol. on the night of 24/25 february 1917, "laverock" was one of five destroyers (the others were "lance", , and ) patrolling the dover straits to guard against attack by german torpedo boats, while further forces of destroyers and cruisers were on standby in the downs and at dover. that night, german torpedo boats a raid against the dover barrage and allied shipping in the dover straits, with one flotilla attacking the barrage and a half flotilla of torpedo boats operating off the kent coast. the southern german force, the 6th flotilla, comprising six torpedo boats (equivalent to royal navy destroyers) encountered "laverock" and engaged the british destroyer with gunfire and at least two torpedoes, one of which struck "laverock" but did not detonate. "laverock" set out in pursuit of the german ships, which broke contact and returned to base, their commander believing that he was engaged with several destroyers and that his planned raid on dover was no longer possible. the second german group of five torpedo boats, was spotted near the north entrance to the downs, and shelled margate and westgate-on-sea prior to returning to base.