In January and February 1940 she was under repair at HMNB Devonport for work which included the replacement of turbine blades, damaged due to excess stress during high speed steaming in inclement weather, and the installation of de-gaussing equipment for protection against magnetic mines. She returned to active service in March, and took part in convoy escorts to and from Norway, as well as sweeps to intercept German warships. Whilst carrying out these duties, "Matabele" came under heavy air attacks on 13 April, and again on 16 April, but escaped undamaged. On 17 April she escorted the cruisers and to Bodø. On 18 April she ran aground on Foksen shoal, but managed to re-float with damage to her structure. "Effingham" also ran aground, but suffered serious damage. "Matabele" took off troops and equipment from the stricken cruiser, after which "Matabele" scuttled "Effingam" with torpedoes and gunfire. She continued supporting operations off Norway , and then returned to the UK at the end of May for repairs and a refit at Falmouth. This work lasted until July and involved the replacement of her twin 4.7-inch mounting in "X" position aft with a twin 4 inch HA mounting to improve her defence against air attacks. She returned to active service after post refit trials on 19 August. She continued to serve in Home waters and off Norway. On 22 October she and "Somali" attacked a convoy off Åndalsnes and on 23 October she. "Somali" and "Punjabi" sank the German weather ship off Stadlandet. "Matabele" sank a coaster. November and December were spent operating out of Scapa Flow, including forming part of a screen for the search for the German raider which had been reported on passage to attack the Atlantic convoys. In January 1941 she screened minelaying operations off Norway and on 16 January she escorted the battleship , then on passage to the United States carrying Lord Halifax and senior defence personnel, through the North Western Approaches. Further screening of minelaying operations followed. In March she began to escort convoys, but entered refit again in Vickers-Armstrong's Barrow-in-Furness yards on 11 April. This lasted until May and consisted of the removal of the mainmast and the top of the after funnel to improve the arcs of fire for her close range weapons.