Leaving Nova Scotia for Britain on 14 June, she again suffered from engine problems which cast her adrift for three hours while they were repaired. She continued to suffer from engine problems crossing the Atlantic, and on 17 September a depth charge-armed Swordfish crashed into her island on landing. After 75 minutes, they managed to safely drop the charge overboard. Arriving at Greenock on 23 June, she entered dock for modifications and to lengthen her wooden flight deck. On 2 September, she took part in landing trials with a Fairey Fulmar and practised landings and takeoffs with other Fleet Air Arm aircraft in the following weeks and exercised in oiling her escort vessels. On 1 October, "Biter" arrived in Scapa Flow, where she was joined on 10 October by . Her first fighters arrived on 14 October; 15 Sea Hurricanes belonging to No. 800 Naval Air Squadron. These planes were Sea Hurricane IB's armed with twelve machine guns and ICs armed with four 20 mm cannons. The two escort carriers—joined by the fleet carrier —left for Greenock on 16 October to join the British forces taking part in the North Africa landings Operation Torch. For the Torch landings, "Biter" was part of the covering force off Oran. The force comprised the battleship , the carriers and , the light cruiser and nine destroyers. Flying operations began on 8 November 1942, but after a Sea Hurricane crashed into her bridge "Biter" was temporarily put out of action. One Sea Hurricane was shot down by a Vichy French Dewoitine D.520. Both "Biter" and "Dasher" were sent back to Gibraltar on 10 November. "Biter" joined a convoy for Greenock and arrived without incident on 19 November and went to Dundee for an overhaul. In February 1943, "Biter" joined "Argus" and her destroyer escorts on an anti-submarine exercise and then left for Iceland on 13 April accompanied by the destroyers and arriving on 17 April. Along with HMS "Pathfinder" these ships formed 5th Support Group, commanded by Captain Conolly Abel-Smith. "Biter" had taken aboard No. 811 Naval Air Squadron under Lieutenant-Commander A.J.B Forde. This was a composite squadron equipped with nine Fairey Swordfish and three Grumman Martlets. On 21 April, "Biter" departed Iceland with convoy ONS 4 bound for Argentia. Captain Abel-Smith had decided to shadow the convoy from a distance believing this would provide them with greater opportunities to engage shadowing U-boats.