How did sloops serve beyond the battle fleet?

Did sloops operate with the larger fleet?

Usually not, because treaty-defined sloops were limited to 20 knots; they instead escorted convoys, patrolled coasts and overseas stations, swept mines, and hunted submarines.

Sloops acted as force multipliers outside the main battle line. Their convoy escort, coastal patrol, minesweeping, presence, and anti-submarine duties released destroyers for faster fleet work. With enough hulls, the Royal Navy could also have formed dedicated submarine-hunter groups around chokepoints such as Gibraltar.