After the Japanese commenced air attacks on Singapore on 8 December, "Vendetta"s anti-aircraft weapons were removed and used to supplement the dockyard's defences. On 2 February 1942, the stripped-down vessel was towed from the dockyard by the tug "St Just", then over the course of the month was towed by , , then to Fremantle, where she arrived on 3 March. After this, the destroyer had to be towed across the Great Australian Bight to Williamstown Naval Dockyard. "Ping Wo" started the tow, but only made it to Cape Leeuwin before her engines failed, and a British Phosphate Commission freighter took over, with the corvette escorting. Three towlines were snapped by the weather conditions, and progress at some points was as low as , but the ships arrived in Melbourne on 15 April. After most of the refit was completed at Williamstown, "Vendetta" sailed on 29 September for Sydney, where work was completed in December.