The convoy encountered extreme severe weather, which forced six merchant ships, the cruiser Sheffield and the escort carrier  to turn back, but also prevented German forces from making effective attacks, with no merchant ships being sunk. Orwell sailed with the return convoy, RA 53 which left Kola Bay on 1 March, leaving the convoy on 10 March. Three ships of the convoy were sunk by German U-boats, while a fourth ship foundered.
Heavy losses to German submarine attacks in March resulted in destroyers being detached from the home Fleet and attached to Western Approaches Command, to be used to form new Escort Groups to provide additional support to convoys being attacked by enemy submarines, with Orwell joining the 3rd Escort Group. Orwell reinforced Convoy SC 123 and Convoy HX 230 in March 1943. From 8 April to 12 May 1943, Orwell was refitted at a commercial shipyard at Hull, and then returned to the Home Fleet.