On 20 Oct 1940, the convoy BN-7, consisting of 32 merchants under escort by HMNZS Leander (C 75), HMS Kimberley (F 50), HMAS Yarra (L 77), HMS Auckland (L 61), HMIS Indus (L 67), HMS Derby (J 90) and HMS Huntley (J 56) was unsuccessfully attacked in the Red Sea by the Italian destroyers Pantera, Leone, Nazario Sauro and Franceso Nullo based at Massawa, Eritrea.
The Francesco Nullo (KKpt Borsini) was driven ashore near Massawa by gunfire from the destroyer, which was herself hit by coastal artillery and had to be towed to Port Sudan. The wrecked Italian destroyer was destroyed the next day by three Blenheim bombers of 45. RAF-Sqdn.

On 30 Mar 1949, HMS Kimberley (F 50) was sold for scrap and broken up at Troon.

At 01.57 hours on 12 Jan 1942, U-77 sighted two destroyers off Tobruk and fired at 02.38 hours a spread of four torpedoes of which one hit the stern of HMS Kimberley (F 50) (Cdr J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN). The explosion blew her stern off and immediately stopped the vessel, which was missed by a coup de grâce at 02.45 hours. The destroyer was towed to Alexandria by HMS Heythrop (L 85) (LtCdr R.S. Stafford, RN) and after temporary repairs towed in February 1942 to Bombay, where she was repaired and returned to service in January 1944.