 From there she joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla to defend convoys in the early stages of the Battle of the Atlantic.During 1940 she escorted Convoy OG 22F alongside and through the Western Approaches on its way to Gibraltar in March.In July 1940 she was present at the attack on Mers-el-Kébir (where she rescued crews from the British-sunk ) then joined the destroyers , , , , , , , , and as they screened the capital ships preparing for air attacks from on Italian targets on Cagliari in July 1940 – the operation was abandoned after the force came under heavy air attacks.