ordered as part of the 1910 naval programme, "active" was the tenth ship of her name to serve in the royal navy. she was laid down at pembroke dockyard's no. 5 slipway on 27 july 1910 by mrs. mundy, wife of the dockyard's captain-superintendent, captain geoffrey mundy and launched on 14 march 1911 by lady herbert, wife of major-general ivor herbert, mp. completed in december 1911, the ship was assigned to the 4th battle squadron of the first fleet by 18 february 1913, but had been transferred to the 1st light cruiser squadron as of 18 june. she remained with the squadron for less than a year and was serving as the flotilla leader of the 2nd destroyer flotilla by 18 march 1914.