Indian Ocean raid
In 1942, "Dorsetshire", under the command of Augustus Agar, was assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. In March, "Dorsetshire" was assigned to Force A, which was commanded by Admiral James Somerville, with the battleship and the carriers and . Somerville received reports of an impending Japanese attack in the Indian Ocean—the Indian Ocean raid—and so he put his fleet to sea on 31 March. Having not encountered any hostile forces by 4 April, he withdrew to refuel. "Dorsetshire" and her sister ship "Cornwall" were sent to Colombo to replenish their fuel.