 During 1941, "d'Aosta" served mostly with the 8th Cruiser Division, laying minefields off North Africa and protecting convoys.One of the convoy duties, in December, led to the First Battle of Sirte, in which "d'Aosta" took part.Her duties in 1942 were much as before, but with aggressive actions against Allied convoys, including the Operations "Harpoon" and "Vigorous", in June, to resupply the British controlled island of Malta.