▁the ▁Italian ▁air field ▁on ▁Sc arp anto ▁on ▁ 4 ▁September . ▁ ▁T ogether ▁with ▁three ▁Australian ▁destroy ers ▁and ▁two ▁British ▁anti - air craft ▁cru is ers , ▁the ▁ship ▁esc orted ▁a ▁con voy ▁from ▁Egypt ▁to ▁S uda ▁Bay , ▁Cre te ▁and ▁then ▁to ▁Mal ta ▁in ▁early ▁November . ▁In ▁December ▁she ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁intercept ▁enemy ▁supply ▁con vo ys ▁along ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁coast ▁and ▁captured ▁two ▁sch oon ers ▁off ▁B ard ia ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁December . ▁In ▁early ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁D ain ty ▁esc orted ▁the ▁capital ▁ships ▁of ▁Force ▁A ▁during ▁Operation ▁Ex cess . ▁She ▁to wed ▁the ▁disabled ▁tank er ▁Des m ou lea ▁to ▁S uda ▁Bay ▁after ▁the ▁latter ▁had ▁been ▁tor ped o ed ▁by ▁the ▁ ▁off ▁Cre te ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁January . ▁ ▁S inking ▁Short ly ▁afterwards , ▁D ain ty ▁returned ▁to ▁pat rol ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁coast . ▁In ▁the ▁late ▁afternoon ▁of ▁ 2 4 ▁February ▁she ▁left ▁Tob ru k ▁on ▁a ▁pat rol , ▁accompanied ▁by ▁the ▁destroy er ▁. ▁The ▁ships ▁were ▁attacked ▁by ▁ 1 3 ▁J unk ers ▁Ju ▁ 8 8 ▁bom bers ▁of ▁III ./ Le hr gesch w ader ▁ 1 ▁and ▁D ain ty ▁was ▁hit ▁by ▁a ▁ ▁bomb ▁which ▁passed ▁through ▁the ▁captain ' s ▁cabin ▁and ▁det on ated ▁in ▁the ▁fuel ▁t anks . ▁This ▁started ▁a