In 1942, "Bande Nere" continued to support Italian convoys and interdict British ones. The Italian operation "K7" ran supplies from Messina and Corfu to Tripoli with heavy naval support and there was an attempt to block the British convoy "MW10", which led to the Second Battle of Sirte on 22 March 1942. "Bande Nere" was part of the battleship 's flotilla. The Italian cruiser scored a hit on a British counterpart during this engagement, damaging her after turrets. Other reports state that "Cleopatra"s radar and radio installations were disabled.