"Gorizia" returned to Taranto in late January 1941. She conducted maneuvers with "Zara" on 29 January; she then went to La Spezia for periodic maintenance, which lasted from 28 February to 7 May. "Pola" took her place in the 1st Division, and all three of her sisters were sunk in the Battle of Cape Matapan on 28 March. Since the 1st Division had been effectively wiped out at Cape Matapan, "Gorizia" was reassigned to the 3rd Division on 8 May, along with the two s. The ships, based in Messina, began escorting convoys to North Africa that month, the first of which took place from 26 to 28 May. Another convoy departed Italy on 25 June, escorted by "Gorizia", , and a squadron of destroyers. The convoy, which consisted of requisitioned transatlantic liners, steamed to Tripoli and back, arriving in Taranto on 1 July. On 23 August, the main fleet sortied to intercept the British Force H, though they failed to locate their opponent.