On 7th April 1940, BEDOUIN left Scapa Flow as part of the Home Fleet destroyer force destined for Norway. The Tribals spent most of their time screening the bigger ships at Vestfiord Norway and were nearly committed to participate in the First Battle of Narvik. Their chance to fight came a short time later when the Second Battle of Narvik unfolded. Other Tribals such as HMS PUNJABI, HMS ESKIMO and HMS COSSACK sustained considerable damage during the action. When the battle was over, BEDOUIN joined by HMS HOSTILE and HMS IVANHOE, remained off Narvik until the early hours of 14th April when they escorted ESKIMO stern first to Skelfiord, Norway for repairs.
Most of the summer of 1940 was spent standing-by in the belief that a German invasion of Britain would have to be repelled. On 9th October, BEDOUIN Arrived at Portsmouth, England for destoring before proceeding to Southampton for refit. When completed on 17th November, she rejoined the 6th Destroyer Flotilla (6th DF) at Scapa Flow. There, she completed her workups. The flotilla spent most of the winter of 1940/41 escorting capital ships during their exercises and sweeps in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea usually in rough weather.
By 1st March 1941, BEDOUIN and other ships left Scapa Flow for a commando raid on Norway. Off Brettesnes, BEDOUIN had intercepted the Norwegian coastal steamer MIRA. The ferry took no notice of a shot fired across her bow, so Commandeer McCoy put a shell into her bows and another into her boiler room. MIRA stopped and sank. Afterwards, the destroyer rescued the survivors. Other successful operations followed. Admiralty intelligence had learned that the Germans were planning something. Home Fleet patrols were intensified and several blockade-runners were intercepted. While escorting the auxiliary minelayer SOUTHERN PRINCE, BEDOUIN learned that the German battleship BISMARK was out in the Atlantic. Vigilance was increased in the event that they made contact with the enemy. She would attack BISMARCK alone if required until assistance arrived. To their relief, the crew did not meet up with the enemy.
Following a refit an Immingham England, BEDOUIN returned to the Home Fleet in September of 1941. This marked the beginning of a long, bitter, hard-working winter. She shared in HMS ASHANTI'S experiences in the Loften Island expedition of Christmas 1941 and in the Fleet Operations of January - March 1942. By May, she was back for refit at Hull.
When General Rommel began a major offensive in North Africa on 26th May, the situation in Malta became rather serious. Two convoys were to be run in order to help fortify the defences there. BEDOUIN was assigned to the eastbound convoy originating form Gibraltar. On 15th June, the convoy met up with the Italian navy just off the Algerian coast. In the ensuing battle, BEDOUIN'S superstructure was severely damaged. The ship was burning and stopped in the water. Dense smoke screens laid by the British prevented the Italians from any further assaults and they eventually retreated. The crew of BEDOUIN assessed the damage to their ship. They had been hit twelve times by 6 inch shells although not all of them had exploded. Splinters from one shell perforated the gear casing and started a fire in the Gear Room. Main and steering engines were dead and there was no electricity. HMS PARTRIDGE took the Tribal in tow and she was ordered to rejoin the convoy.
Next, two Italian cruisers reappeared. They finished off HMS BURDWAN and HMS KENTUCKY and they also managed to locate PARTRIDGE and BEDOUIN. The towline was slipped; BEDOUIN ignited smoke floats and also got one engine running. At the same instant, an Italian torpedo bomber raced in from starboard. The aircraft was hit by one of the destroyer's guns and crashed into the sea. The torpedo hit BEDOUIN'S engine room, blasting a hole clear through the ship. She immediately rolled over to port and sank with the loss of 28 men. At dusk, an Italian floatplane and a little Italian hospital ship picked up 213 survivors. During the rescue operation, the hospital ship was bombed by Italian aircraft. Ironically, the pilot of the torpedo bomber which resulted in BEDOUIN'S sinking was also rescued. The men taken prisoner were sent to Italian and German POW camps until the end of the war.