Along with her sisters , "T8" and , the boat supported German forces invading the Estonian islands of Ösel, Dagö and Muhu (Operation Beowulf) in mid-September. "T2", "T5", "T7", "T8" and "T11" were among the escorts for the Baltic Fleet, a temporary formation built around the battleship , as it sortied into the Sea of Åland on 23–29 September to forestall any attempt by the Soviet Red Banner Baltic Fleet to breakout from the Gulf of Finland. Dagö was captured on 12–13 October after "T5" is part of a decoy force used to distract the defenders. She went to France in January 1942 and rejoined the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. On the morning of 12 February, the 2nd and 3rd Torpedo Boat Flotillas (with "T2", "T4", "T5", "T11", "T12" and , , , and respectively) rendezvoused with the battleships "Gneisenau" and and the heavy cruiser to escort them through the Channel to Germany in the Channel Dash. After arriving in Germany, "T5" and "T12" were transferred to Norway for escort duties. On 6 March they briefly screened "Tirpitz" as she searched for the Russia-bound Convoy PQ 12. "T5" and "T7" escorted the heavy cruiser and the replenishment oiler "Dithmarschen" from Trondheim to Narvik on 9–10 May. "T5" was refitted in East Prussia from August to November and then remained in the Baltic Sea on escort duties until March 1943.