The crew was primarily occupied with maintaining the ship and continuously manning antiaircraft defences.

By 1928, her antiaircraft defences had been altered to 4-4" quick fire Mark IV guns and her two forecastle deck 6" guns were removed.

Since attack transports would be conducting operations off hostile shores, they had a greater requirement for armament than ordinary transports, particularly in regards to antiaircraft defence.

They assisted in the antiaircraft defence of the convoys on 21 November 1941 when they came under attack by German Henschel Hs 293 radio-controlled glide bombs launched by Heinkel He 111 aircraft.