During the engagement, Cleopatra's radar and wireless stations were wrecked by a 6" round fired by the Italian light cruiser Giovanni delle Bande Nere.

Captain Guy Grantham considered the resulting leak a minor nuisance and ordered Cleopatra to return to service.

Later, she was a unit of the 12th Cruiser Squadron, and was present at the landings in Sicily, Operation Husky, in June, followed by supporting the army ashore.

Mediterranean experience had shown that air attacks over the bow were common, and more forward fire power was provided with the quad Bofors in "B" position.

Thereafter, she joined the Home Fleet, 2nd Cruiser Squadron, from 1946 to early 1951 and after a major refit and minimal update with the quad Bofors landed and replaced by 3 twin Mk 5 40 mm guns.

As Amesbury she is heroically sunk by the more powerful German raider Essen, (portrayed by HMS Manxman with large mock-up gun turrets), and as Stratford, she triumphs at the end of the story.