▁the ▁aircraft ▁car rier ▁, ▁and ▁the ▁light ▁cru iser ▁ ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁December . ▁They ▁ref uel led ▁in ▁Rio ▁de ▁Janeiro , ▁Brazil , ▁before ▁proceed ing ▁to ▁the ▁est u ary ▁of ▁the ▁River ▁Pl ate ▁in ▁case ▁the ▁dam aged ▁German ▁pocket ▁batt les hip ▁ ▁attempted ▁to ▁escape ▁from ▁Monte video , ▁Uruguay , ▁where ▁she ▁had ▁taken ▁refuge ▁after ▁losing ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁River ▁Pl ate . ▁H ast y ▁was ▁ordered ▁to ▁the ▁UK ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁to ▁ref it ▁and ▁captured ▁the ▁German ▁block ade ▁runner ▁SS ▁More a ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁Atlantic ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁February ▁en ▁route . ▁ ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁Home ▁Fle et ▁after ▁comple ting ▁her ▁ref it ▁in ▁March . ▁T ogether ▁with ▁the ▁destroy er ▁, ▁H ast y ▁esc orted ▁the ▁destroy er ▁ ▁into ▁New castle ▁upon ▁Ty ne ▁on ▁ 1 9 – 2 0 ▁March ▁after ▁the ▁latter ▁ship ▁had ▁coll ided ▁with ▁a ▁Swedish ▁merchant ▁ship ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁Sea . ▁We ather ▁damage ▁prevent ed ▁the ▁ship ▁from ▁particip ating ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁stages ▁of ▁the ▁Norwegian ▁Camp aign , ▁but ▁she ▁esc orted ▁the ▁aircraft ▁carri ers ▁ ▁and ▁Ark ▁Royal ▁from ▁ 2 1 ▁April ▁as ▁their ▁aircraft ▁attacked ▁German ▁targets ▁in ▁Norway . ▁H ast y ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁G lor ious s ▁esc ort s ▁when ▁the ▁car rier ▁returned ▁to ▁Sc apa ▁Flow ▁to ▁ref uel