The conversion was completed on 30 March 1940, just in time for the ship to be used with the Home Fleet as a troop transport during the Norwegian Campaign. She ferried British troops to Narvik in late April and escorted an evacuation convoy from Harstad on 4 June. "Vindictive" was transferred to the South Atlantic later in the year and remained there until late 1942, when she was ordered north. On the night of 12 November, she was attacked west of Gibraltar by the , but managed to evade the torpedoes. "U-515" sank the accompanying destroyer tender and blew the stern off one of the escorting destroyers, . She remained with the Mediterranean Fleet until 1944, when she was recalled to support the ships participating in Operation Overlord.