Battle of Cape Spartivento
From Gibraltar the convoy and Force F sailed east with Force H, and on 27 September an Italian "Regia Marina" force attacked. In the ensuing Battle of Cape Spartivento the corvettes protected the merchant ships , and while Force H and other ships of Force F, later joined by Force D which had sailed from Alexandria, held off the Italian attack. The convoy then continued to Malta, where the corvettes refuelled. The two Clan Line freighters stayed in Malta to unload but "Manchester", "Southampton", the destroyers and and the four corvettes then escorted the Blue Star Line refrigerated ship "New Zealand Star" to Alexandria.