Whirlwind was built by Hawthorn Leslie and was launched on 30 August 1943. In 1953 she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F187. In 1954 she participated in the recovery of the wreckage of the crashed de Havilland Comet off the island of Elba. Whirlwind foundered in Cardigan Bay on 29 October 1974 while in use as a target.