convoy operation to Libya, Operation "T.V.L". On 5 October Ascari and the rest of the DesDiv 12 sailed from Taranto as part of the escort of a convoy heading for the Dodecanese (Operation CV), but the operation was cancelled after British battleships were sighted by aerial reconnaissance in the eastern Mediterranean. On 26–27 November 1940, Ascari participated in the Battle of Cape Spartivento; during the battle, Lanciere was hit by a 6in shell from the cruiser HMS Manchester that left her dead in the water, and Ascari took her in tow and towed the crippled ship to Cagliari. In February 1941 Ascari participated in convoy operations between Italy and North Africa, and on 25 February she rescued the survivors of the light cruiser , that had been torpedoed and sunk by . Between 26 and 29 March 1941 Ascari and the rest of her division escorted the 3rd Cruiser Division during the Battle of Cape Matapan. Between March and September 1941 Ascari escorted a number of convoys between Italy and Libya. Most of these convoys were successful, but on 24 May 1941 the troopship was torpedoed and sunk by with the loss of nearly 1,300 men. On 23 September 1941 Ascari and sister ships laid a minefield off Malta, and on the following day they participated in a sortie by the 3rd and 8th Cruiser Divisions aimed at intercepting a British convoy, without success. On 13 December she joined a large convoy operation between Italy and Libya, "M. 41", which failed due to heavy attacks by aircraft and submarines. On 16 December Ascari took part in another large convoy operation to Libya, "M. 42", which was successful, despite a brief encounter with the escort of an Allied convoy to Malta, in an action known as the First Battle of Sirte. Between January and March 1942 Ascari participated in the escorts of four more large convoy operations to Libya, "M. 43", "T. 18", "K. 7" and "V. 5", that were successful; the only loss during these operations was the troopship Victoria, sunk by Allied torpedo bombers on 24 January 1942. Ascari rescued survivors from the transport. On 21–22 March Ascari took part in the Second Battle of Sirte. On 13–15 June 1942 Ascari, attached to the 10th Destroyer Division, participated in Operation Harpoon, attacking a British convoy to Malta together with the 7th Cruiser Division and 14th Destroyer Division. In the