Commissioned in early 1942, she took part in the invasion of Madagascar, and several Malta Convoys, before being disabled in a battle with Italian torpedo boats in April 1943 and scuttled.

[2] Pakenham was ordered from Hawthorn Leslie and Company at Hebburn on 2 October 1939, as part of the War Emergency Programme, and laid down as Onslow on 6 February 1940.

[2] Pakenham was then transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria, and took part in Operation Vigorous, a failed attempt to escort a convoy taking supplies to the besieged island of Malta.

While Belluno and Tifone slipped away, the forward escort fought a short action, in which Cigno was disabled by gunfire from Pakenham, then torpedoed by Paladin and sunk.

Paladin attempted to tow her to Malta, but by morning the threat of enemy air attacks forced her to embark Pakenham's crew, and then scuttled her by torpedo southwest of Sicily at position 37°26′N 12°30′E / 37.433°N 12.500°E / 37.433; 12.500.