Recommissioned, Voyager served in the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres of World War II until 23 September 1942, when she ran aground while trying to deliver troops to Timor.
[1] Later modifications to her armament included the installation of a second 2-pounder gun and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and the removal of one of the torpedo tube sets.
[3] On 22 April 1919, Voyager took part in a visit to the French port of Cherbourg by 13 British warships, including the battleships Barham, Malaya, Valiant and Warspite.
On 28 October, Voyager fired 20 rounds at Baltic German infantry positions near Riga, and from 3 November, together with Velox and the cruiser Dragon, provided artillery support for a Latvian offensive that drove the Baltic German forces away from Riga, the artillery support continuing until 10 November, when the retreating enemy were out of range of the British guns.
[9] On 16 November, Voyager carried a load of field guns and ammunition from Riga to Liepāja, where after heavy fighting, the Latvians, supported by the Royal Navy, had beaten back more attacks by the West Russian Volunteer Army.
[3] In January 1922, Voyager transferred to the 5th Destroyer Flotilla,[3] and in February the same year, took part in Atlantic Fleet exercises in the Mediterranean, followed by a series of port visits.
[2] The ships arrived in Australia on 21 December 1933, and Voyager undertook routine peacetime duties until she was placed in reserve on 14 April 1936.
[2] On 23 July, there was a brief mutiny aboard the destroyer, when 12 sailors sat down outside their mess deck and refused to move until their issue was addressed.
[2] The rest of 1940 was spent escorting the Malta Convoys and providing support to ground forces involved in the Libyan campaign.
[25][26] After the completion of the refit, which lasted from September 1941 to March 1942, Voyager commenced convoy escort duties in Australian waters.
[27][28] Throughout late 1942, a haphazard supply service began, and Voyager became involved when a sizable troop landing (400 commandos from 2/4th Independent Company) and evacuation (the 2/2nd, plus any Portuguese women and children) was planned for September 1942: the need for a large capacity, speed, and surprise requiring the use of a destroyer.
[28] The destroyer's position was not the best, and as the soldiers began to disembark over the port side into the barges, Voyager's commanding officer decided to reorient the ship.
[28] Attempts to lighten the ship and float her free failed, and by the next morning's high tide, the stern and propeller shafts were embedded in the sand.
[28] At 13:30 on 24 September, the beached ship was spotted by two Japanese aircraft; the bomber shot down, but the escorting fighter escaped to report.
[28] After the air attack, the Voyager personnel signalled Darwin to explain the ship's loss and request evacuation; they were retrieved by the corvettes Kalgoorlie and Warrnambool at 20:00 on 25 September.
[27][28][29] The destroyer's wartime service is recognised with seven battle honours: "Darwin 1942", "Calabria 1940", "Libya 1940–41", "Greece 1941", "Crete 1941", "Mediterranean 1941", and "Pacific 1942".