Cape Palos
In December, "Kempenfelt" began a more thorough refit at Devonport that lasted until 10 April 1937 and returned to Spanish waters afterwards to intercept shipping carrying contraband goods to Spain and to protect British-flagged ships. On 6 March, the ship and the destroyer , rescued survivors from the Nationalist heavy cruiser after she had been sunk by Republican destroyers during the Battle of Cape Palos. She was refitted at Chatham in May–June 1938 and made a number of port visits in Scandinavia the following month. "Kempenfelt" was transferred to the Portsmouth Local Flotilla and remained there until the war began in September 1939.