On 7 January 1941, "Defender" escorted Convoy MW.5 with her sister and the anti-aircraft cruiser from Alexandria to Malta during Operation Excess. The ship was refitted in Malta from 4 February to 19 March and participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan on 27–29 March. During Operation Demon, the evacuation of Allied troops from Greece, she escorted Convoy GA15 on 29–30 April from Souda Bay, Crete, to Alexandria. An Italian destroyer and two torpedo boats attacked the convoy at night as it was transiting Kaso Strait east of Crete, but were rebuffed by the defenders without inflicting any damage. The following month "Defender" assisted in the evacuation of troops from Crete to Egypt after the Germans invaded on 22 May (Operation Merkur).