From 2 to 16 October, "Ajax" was engaged in major fleet manoeuvres to interdict Italian convoys to Libya and to protect British convoys to Malta. Firstly, she sailed with the fleet to search for Italian convoys, possibly with their own fleet escorts. On 8 October, "Ajax" again deployed with a major naval force to cover the passage to Malta of convoy MF3 (Operation MB6). "Ajax" and "Orion" patrolled south-east of Malta before covering the return of Convoy MF4 to Alexandria on 12 October. (The main fleet was deployed to the west of the convoy).