The remaining four ships of the flotilla were briefly assigned to Freetown, West Africa in early 1940 to escort convoys passing through the area and to search for German commerce raiders. They were all recalled to the Mediterranean in April–May in anticipation of Italian entry into the war. "Decoy", "Defender", and "Dainty" sank two Italian submarines, "Dainty" sinking one more with the destroyer in June, before they participated in the Battle of Calabria early the following month. "Diamond" joined her sisters in late July and all four ships escorted convoys and the ships of the Mediterranean Fleet for the rest of the year. "Duncan" joined Force H at Gibraltar in October and participated in the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento together with "Diamond" and "Defender" in November. "Decoy" had been damaged by aircraft earlier that month and was under repair until February 1941.