"Vampire" operated in Australian waters until the start of World War II, and on 14 October 1939, joined her sister ships and "Stuart" (a force nicknamed the "Scrap Iron Flotilla") as they were deployed to the Mediterranean Theatre. From her arrival until April 1940, "Vampire" was primarily assigned to convoy escort duties between Malta and Marseilles. The destroyer operated as an escort and anti-submarine patrol ship from the end of April, and escorted the British aircraft carrier during the Battle of Calabria on 9 July. The only damage sustained by "Vampire" was the result of near misses and splinters caused by Italian aircraft bombing "Eagle": an RN torpedo gunner aboard the destroyer became the first fatality of the war aboard a RAN ship when he died three days later from splinter wounds.