 Initially, she was assigned escort and anti-submarine duties.On June 6, 1940, in preparation for hostilities, the ships of 1st Destroyer Squadron together with minelayer "Bartletta" laid fourteen minefields (540 mines) around Tobruk.After an air reconnaissance revealed large number of ships present in Tobruk harbor, including several destroyers, British command ordered an air attack on Tobruk on June 12.