Battle of Cape Passero (1940)

Last updated

Battle of Cape Passero (1940)
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
HMS Ajax.jpg
The light cruiser HMS York
Date12 October 1940
Location 36°13′19.62″N15°43′56.71″E / 36.2221167°N 15.7324194°E / 36.2221167; 15.7324194
Result British victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy
Commanders and leaders
Edward McCarthy Carlo Margottini  
Strength
1 light cruiser 4 destroyers
3 torpedo boats
Casualties and losses
13 killed
22 wounded
1 light cruiser damaged
1 destroyer sunk
2 torpedo boats sunk
1 destroyer damaged

The Battle of Cape Passero (1940), was a naval engagement in the Second World War between the British light cruiser HMS Ajax, three torpedo boats and seven destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina , in the central Mediterranean, to the south-east of Sicily, on the night of 11/12 October 1940.

Contents

The British Convoy MF 3 from Alexandria to Malta had a close escort of anti-aircraft cruisers and destroyers, backed by a distant escort of much of the Mediterranean Fleet, including four battleships and two aircraft carriers. Convoy MF 4 sailed from Malta to Alexandria with much the same escort.

Supermarina , the headquarters of the Regia Marina had prepared an operation against ships trying to pass through the Sicilian Narrows at night, the Dispositivo del Canale di Sicilia (Strait of Sicily Device) with torpedo boats, MAS (Motoscafo armato siluranti, torpedo-armed motorboats), minefields and submarines, part of which was implemented on 11 October.

Background

Operation MB 6

The covering force for Convoy MF 3 (Alexandria to Malta) and Convoy MF 4 (Malta to Alexandria), comprised HMS Warspite (flagship, Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham) Valiant, Malaya and Ramillies, the aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and Illustrious the cruisers HMS York, Gloucester and Liverpool of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron and HMS Ajax, Orion and HMAS Sydney of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, with the destroyers HMS Dainty, Decoy, Defender, Hyperion, Havock, Hero, Hasty, Hereward, Ilex Imperial Jervis, Janus Juno, Nubian Stuart, HMAS Vampire, Vendetta, HMAS Voyager, Waterhen and Wryneck. [1]

Convoy MF 3

In early October, four merchant ships that had sailed the long route to Alexandria from Britain via the Cape of Good Hope, Clan Macauley (10,492  GRT, Clan Ferguson (7,347 GRT), Lanarkshire (8,167 GRT) and Memnon (7,506 GRT) had arrived. [2] Chosen for their similarities in tonnage and speed, each had been loaded in Britain by the Sea Transport Division of the Ministry of War Transport with a selection of stores for Malta, to prevent the sinking of one ship depriving Malta of a class of cargo. Convoy MF 3 (Malta Fast 3) sailed on 8 October, with a close escort of the anti-aircraft cruisers HMS Calcutta and Coventry with the destroyers Stuart, Voyager, Wryneck and Waterhen. [3] The convoy arrived at Malta on 11 October, bad weather having prevented the Italian fleet from sailing. Some damage was suffered by the destroyer Imperial with the Mediterranean Fleet on a mine and it was towed into Grand Harbour by Decoy. [4]

Prelude

Convoy MF 4

The Strait of Sicily Strait of Sicily map.png
The Strait of Sicily

Convoy MF 4 comprised Volo (1,587 GRT), the Leaf-class tanker, Plumleaf (5,916 GRT) from Convoy MF 2 and the gunboat HMS Aphis departed Malta at 10:30 p.m. on 11 October for the return journey to Alexandria. [5] The main body of the Mediterranean Fleet had waited to the south of Malta and the 7th Cruiser Squadron formed a line to sweep to the north-east. The light cruiser, Ajax, the northernmost ship in the line was sailing a zig-zag at about 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph), 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi)to the east of Malta. [6]

The Strait of Sicily device

An Italian civilian aircraft spotted the Mediterranean Fleet about 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) south-east of Malta, to the surprise of the Italian naval headquarters, Supermarina , which remained dubious as no other aircraft reported any sightings. [7] As a precaution, Supermarina implemented the Dispositivo del Canale di Sicilia the (Strait of Sicily Device) a plan to attack ships passing the Sicilian Narrows at night with torpedo boats, MAS (Motoscafo armato siluranti, torpedo-armed motorboats), minefields and submarines. A force of destroyers was sent to Cape Bon, in case the British warships were going west to Gibraltar. [8] [9] [6]

It was too late for the Italian battlefleet to operate against the convoy but cruiser divisions at Palermo and Messina were ordered to raise steam as a precaution, the Regia Aeronautica was notified and traffic with North Africa was suspended. Three MAS sailed from Augusta, Sicily to patrol off Malta, the 1st Torpedo Boat Squadron, with the Spica-class torpedo boats Airone (flagship, Captain Alberto Banfi) Alcione and Ariel and the nearby 11th Destroyer Squadron with the Soldati-class destroyers Artigliere (flagship, Captain Carlo Margottini), Camicia Nera, Aviere and Geniere were sent to patrol to the east of Malta, between 35° 45'N and 35° 25'N. [8] [9] [6]

Actions

12 October

Cassiopea an example of a Spica-class torpedo boat Cassiopea-RM.jpg
Cassiopea an example of a Spica-class torpedo boat

The Italian torpedo boats sailed westwards at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) in rake formation, about 8,000 yd (3.9 nmi; 7.3 km) apart. The 11th Destroyer Squadron was also in rake formation 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of Ariel, Geniere to the north with Aviere, Artigliere and Camicia Nera in line to the south. [10] At 01:37, Ajax was sighted by Alcione, steaming eastward, 19,600 yd (9.7 nmi; 17.9 km) away on the port side. At 01:48, the three torpedo boats were closing on the British cruiser at full speed, the British unaware of the approach. [11] At 01:57, Alcione fired two torpedoes from a range of 1,900 yd (1,700 m). [9] Captain Banfi, commander of the Italian formation, ordered the flagship Airone to open fire on the cruiser with her 100 mm (3.9 in) guns, followed by her sister ships. Two rounds hit the bridge and the third 6 ft (1.8 m) below the waterline. [12]

Ajax returned fire on the nearest torpedo boat—Ariel—while at full speed. Ariel was shattered by the salvos and sank twenty minutes later, although she may have been able to fire a torpedo. Captain Mario Ruta, his second in command, and most of the crew were killed. Airone was the next Italian ship to be hit. She managed to launch two torpedoes before being disabled, catching fire almost immediately, her bridge and upper deck machine-gunned by Ajax at short range. She sank a few hours later. Banfi was among the survivors. Then Alcione—the only Italian warship undamaged—broke contact at 02:03. [13] [14]

The destroyer Artigliere RN Artigliere.jpg
The destroyer Artigliere

After its manoeuvres during the fighting, Ajax resumed course to the eastward. At 02:15, her fire-control radar detected two Italian destroyers. Margottini had sighted the firing from the south but a wireless failure prevented Margottini from making a simultaneous attack, when three of his destroyers had headed north-west, instead of north as ordered. Aviere was battered by a sudden broadside from the British cruiser, forestalling a torpedo attack and was forced to withdraw southwards, severely damaged. Artigliere managed to fire a torpedo and four 120 mm (4.7 in) gun salvos at 2,800 yd (1.4 nmi; 2.6 km) before being hit and crippled. The torpedo missed but four rounds struck two of Ajax's secondary gun turrets, destroyed her port whaler and disabled her radar. [15] After firing at Camicia Nera and missing, Ajax broke off the action. [16]

13–14 October

Example of a Carley float on its launch rails The Royal Navy during the Second World War A7418.jpg
Example of a Carley float on its launch rails

The survivors on Artigliere, all of whose officers but the chief engineer, had been killed, managed to extinguish the fires and get a boiler going but after an hour, the lack of feed water for the boiler left Artigliere stranded again. [17] Camice Nere took Artigliere in tow and Supermarina sent the 3rd Cruiser Division comprising the Trento-class cruisers Trieste, Trento and Bolzano, from Messina at 08:00 but they were too late to rescue Artigliere. [18] A flying-boat from Malta had spotted the Italian ships and Swordfish torpedo-bombers from Illustrious were sent to attack them but achieved no result.

At first light the cruisers YorkGloucester and Liverpool arrived to find Artigliere adrift, Camicia Nera having slipped the tow and left. [19] The survivors on Artigliere surrendered at 36° 30'N, 16° 07'E and Carley floats were dropped near the survivors before York sank the ship with gunfire. [20] [lower-alpha 1] Cunningham sent a signal in clear giving the position of the survivors (to the annoyance of London) and the hospital ship Aquileja rescued about 225 survivors. The Regia Aeronautica made several bombing raids on the Mediterranean Fleet as it sailed eastwards. [19]

Aftermath

Analysis

In 1957, Marcantonio Bragadin, a historian and former admiral of the Regia Marina, wrote that the reports of the action gave Supermarina pause, because Ajax had received only superficial damage from the hits achieved by Airone and Ariel in exchange for the loss of two torpedo boats and a destroyer. The Italian ships were considered to be some of the best in the Regia Marinawith some of the best ship captains. The ships had been fought bravely, a matter noted by the British but inferiority in night-fighting ability had undone them. Bragadin also wrote that Ajax carried radar, a matter in which the Italians were unaware until the Battle of Cape Matapan the following year. The Italians concluded that poor Italian air surveillance had prevented a quick reaction by the Italian battlefleet, handing the tactical advantage to the British of avoiding contact in unfavourable conditions. [22]

In 1998, Greene and Massignani wrote that the action was the first time that the Regia Marina encountere the superior skill and equipment of the British in night actions. The extensive use of star shells, searchlights and incendiary rounds by the British had to be countered if the Italians were to close the technical gap. They also suspected that the British had radar. [23] Supermarina concluded that

Every progress in this field will be of paramount importance and perhaps the most important element to organise will be to co-ordinate the employment of searchlights and flares shells from the outset of the action. [23]

In 2009, Vincent O'Hara wrote that the torpedo boats had sprung a surprise on the British and had been able to launch their torpedoes at very short range but missed Ajax. McCarthy had manoeuvred his ship with "promptitude, ability and great determination" but the weapons and tactics used by the Italians had benefited the British, with the exception of the Italian flashless powder, which did not affect their night vision like the non-flashless powder used by the British. Banfi had achieved 'a brilliant approach' but his ships carried only six torpedoes, less than the capacity of one British destroyer. Having defeated the torpedo boats, the Italian destroyers failed to concentrate and presented themselves one at a time, silhouetted by the moon. Although some of the Italian ships achieved hits on Ajax, the destructive power of a 3.9-inch [30 lb (14 kg)] or a 4.7-inch [51 lb (23 kg)] shell was far less than that of the 6-inch [112 lb (51 kg)] guns of Ajax. [16]

Casualties

Ajax suffered thirteen men killed and 22 wounded. The cruiser fired 490 of its 6-inch shells and four torpedoes. The damage to the superstructure was repaired and Ajax returned to service on 5 November. [16] Almost all of the crew of Ariel was killed. [7]

Subsequent operations

On 14 October, aircraft from the carriers bombed an Italian airfield in the Dodecanese, claiming hits on hangars, fuel dumps and workshops. During the evening twilight, Italian torpedo-bombers attacked the fleet and hit the cruiser Liverpool, blowing off its bows. The ship was taken in tow by Orion, after 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) the tow parted, after reconnecting it, the wreckage of the bows fell into the sea, making the tow much easier. [19]

Orders of battle

Convoy MF 3

Alexandria to Malta, data from Jordan (2006). [24]
ShipYearFlag GRT Notes
SS Clan Macauley 1936Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,492Freighter
SS Clan Ferguson 1938Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,347Freighter
SS Lanarkshire 1936Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,167 Freighter
MV Memnon 1930Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,506 Freighter

Convoy MF 4

Malta to Alexandria, data from Woodman (2003) Jordan (2006). [25]
ShipYearFlag GRT Notes
SS Volo 1938Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,587Freighter
RFA Plumleaf 1917Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,916Tanker
HMS Aphis 1915Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Insect-class gunboat

Convoy escorts

Data from Hague (2010) [26]
ShipFlagTypeNotes
HMS Calcutta Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Anti-aircraft cruiser Convoy escort, 8–13 October
Coventry Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Anti-aircraft cruiser Convoy escort, 8–13 October
HMAS Stuart Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy DestroyerConvoy escort, 8–11 October, MF 3 only
HMS Voyager Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy DestroyerConvoy escort, 8–11 October, MF 3 only
HMAS Waterhen Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy DestroyerConvoy escort, 8–13 October
HMS Wryneck Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy DestroyerConvoy escort, 8–13 October

Regia Marina

Ships involved in the Strait of Sicily Device. Data from Woodman (2003). [4]
ShipFlagTypeNotes
Airone Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Torpedo boat Flagship (Captain Alberto Banfi) 1st Torpedo Boat Squadron (sunk)
Alcione Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Torpedo boat1st Torpedo Boat Squadron
Ariel Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Torpedo boat1st Torpedo Boat Squadron (sunk)
Artigliere Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Destroyer Flagship (Captain Carlo Margottini) 11th Destroyer Squadron (sunk)
Camicia Nera Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Destroyer11th Destroyer Squadron
Aviere Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Destroyer11th Destroyer Squadron
Geniere Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina Destroyer11th Destroyer Squadron

Mediterranean Fleet

Distant escort, data from Woodman (2003) [27]
ShipFlagTypeNotes
HMS Warspite Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy BattleshipFlagship (Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham)
HMS Valiant Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Battleship
HMS Malaya Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Battleship
HMS Ramillies Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Battleship
HMS Eagle Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Aircraft carrier
HMS Illustrious Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Aircraft carrier
HMS York Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Light cruiser3rd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Gloucester Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Cruiser3rd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Liverpool Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Cruiser3rd Cruiser Squadron
HMS Ajax Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Cruiser7th Cruiser Squadron
HMS Orion Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Cruiser7th Cruiser Squadron
HMAS Sydney Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Cruiser7th Cruiser Squadron
HMS Dainty Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Decoy Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Defender Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Hyperion Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Havock Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Hero Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Hasty Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Hereward Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Ilex Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Imperial Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Jervis Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Janus Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Juno Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Nubian Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMAS Vampire Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer
HMS Vendetta Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Destroyer

Notes

  1. Woodman (2003) and Smith (2009) describe the ship being sunk by gunfire, O'Hara (2009) wrote that the gunfire missed and that the wreck was sunk by a torpedo. [19] [21] [16]

Footnotes

  1. Woodman 2003, p. 480.
  2. Woodman 2003, p. 78; Jordan 2006, pp. 115, 192, 147.
  3. Woodman 2003, p. 78; Hague 2010.
  4. 1 2 Woodman 2003, p. 79.
  5. Jordan 2006, p. 85; Woodman 2003, pp. 65, 79; O'Hara 2009, p. 57.
  6. 1 2 3 O'Hara 2009, p. 57.
  7. 1 2 Bragadin 1957, p. 38.
  8. 1 2 Sierra 1976, p. 122.
  9. 1 2 3 Greene & Massignani 1998, p. 97.
  10. O'Hara 2009, p. 58.
  11. Sierra 1976, p. 123.
  12. Sierra 1976, p. 124.
  13. Greene & Massignani 1998, p. 98.
  14. Sierra 1976, p. 125.
  15. Sierra 1976, pp. 125–127.
  16. 1 2 3 4 O'Hara 2009, p. 61.
  17. Bragadin 1957, p. 39.
  18. O'Hara 2009, p. 62.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Woodman 2003, p. 80.
  20. Brown 1995, pp. 38–39.
  21. Smith 2007, p. 57.
  22. Bragadin 1957, pp. 39–40.
  23. 1 2 Greene & Massignani 1998, p. 99.
  24. Jordan 2006, pp. 115, 192, 147.
  25. Woodman 2003, p. 79; Jordan 2006, p. 85.
  26. Hague 2010.
  27. Woodman 2003, pp. 79, 480.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Pedestal</span> Battle in the Mediterranean Sea in 1942 during WWII

Operation Pedestal, known in Malta as Il-Konvoj ta' Santa Marija, was a British operation to carry supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Cape Spartivento</span> Naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean

The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War, fought between naval forces of the Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina on 27 November 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Sirte</span> 1942 naval battle between British and Italian forces

The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement in the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Gulf of Sidra and south-east of Malta, during the Second World War. The escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta held off a much more powerful squadron of the Regia Marina. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships, escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser and 17 destroyers. The Italian force comprised a battleship, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser and ten destroyers. Despite the British success at warding off the Italian squadron, the Italian fleet attack delayed the convoy's planned arrival before dawn, which exposed it to intense air attacks that sank all four merchant ships and one of the escorting destroyers in the following days.

Italian cruiser <i>Giovanni delle Bande Nere</i>

Giovanni delle Bande Nere was an Italian light cruiser of the Giussano class, which served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after the eponymous 16th-century condottiero and member of the Medici family. Her keel was laid down in 1928 at Cantieri Navali di Castellammare di Stabia, Castellammare di Stabia; she was launched on 27 April 1930, and her construction was completed in 1931. Unlike her three sisters, the finish and workmanship on the vessel were not rated highly. She was sunk on 1 April 1942 by the British submarine HMS Urge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Mediterranean</span> World War II naval campaign in the Mediterranean Sea

The Battle of the Mediterranean was the name given to the naval campaign fought in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II, from 10 June 1940 to 2 May 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Cape Bon (1941)</span>

The naval Battle of Cape Bon took place on 13 December 1941 during the Second World War, between two Italian light cruisers and an Allied destroyer flotilla, off Cape Bon in Tunisia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Sirte</span> Naval battle in the Second World War

The First Battle of Sirte was fought between forces of the British Mediterranean Fleet and the Regia Marina during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War. The engagement took place on 17 December 1941, south-east of Malta, in the Gulf of Sirte. The engagement was inconclusive as both forces were protecting convoys and wished to avoid battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malta convoys</span> Allied supply convoys of the Second World War

The Malta convoys were Allied supply convoys of the Second World War. The convoys took place during the Siege of Malta in the Mediterranean Theatre. Malta was a base from which British sea and air forces could attack ships carrying supplies from Europe to Italian Libya. Britain fought the Western Desert Campaign against Axis armies in North Africa to keep the Suez Canal and to control Middle Eastern oil. The strategic value of Malta was so great the British risked many merchant vessels and warships to supply the island and the Axis made determined efforts to neutralise the island as an offensive base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Harpoon (1942)</span> British operation during the Second World War

Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated central Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942, during the Second World War. Operation Vigorous was a west-bound convoy from Alexandria and Operation Harpoon was an east-bound convoy operation from Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Vigorous</span>

Operation Vigorous was a British operation during the Second World War, to escort supply convoy MW11 from the eastern Mediterranean to Malta, which took place from 11 to 16 June 1942. Vigorous was part of Operation Julius, a simultaneous operation with Operation Harpoon from Gibraltar and supporting operations. Sub-convoy MW11c sailed from Port Said (Egypt) on 11 June, to tempt the Italian battlefleet to sail early, use up fuel and be exposed to submarine and air attack. MW11a and MW11b sailed next day from Haifa, Port Said and Alexandria; one ship was sent back because of defects. Italian and German (Axis) aircraft attacked MW11c on 12 June and a damaged ship was diverted to Tobruk, just east of Gazala. The merchant ships and escorts rendezvoused on 13 June. The British plans were revealed unwittingly to the Axis by the US Military Attaché in Egypt, Colonel Bonner Fellers, who reported to Washington, D.C. in "Black"-coded wireless messages; it was later discovered that the Black Code had been broken by the Servizio Informazioni Militare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Halberd</span> World War II maintenance convoy operation

Operation Halberd was a British naval operation that took place on 27 September 1941, during the Second World War. The British were attempting to deliver a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta. The convoy was escorted by several battleships and an aircraft carrier, to deter interference from the Italian surface fleet, while a close escort of cruisers and destroyers provided an anti-aircraft screen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Substance</span> Naval operation of WWII

Operation Substance was a British naval operation in July 1941 during the Second World War to escort Convoy GM 1, the first of the series from Gibraltar to Malta. The convoy, escorted by Force H, was attacked by Italian submarines, aircraft and MAS boats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Tarigo Convoy</span> 1941 naval battle of World War II near Tunisia

The Battle of the Tarigo Convoy was a naval battle of the Second World War, part of the Battle of the Mediterranean. It was fought on 16 April 1941, between four Royal Navy destroyers and three Italian destroyers of the Regia Marina which were escorting a convoy near the Kerkennah Islands off Sfax, on the Tunisian coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Duisburg Convoy</span>

The Battle of the Duisburg Convoy was fought on the night of 8/9 November 1941 between an Italian convoy, its escorts and four British ships. The convoy was named BETA by the Italian naval authorities and carried supplies for the Italian Army civilian colonists and the Afrika Korps in Italian Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Skerki Bank</span>

The Battle of Skerki Bank was an engagement during the Second World War which took place near Skerki Bank in the Mediterranean Sea in the early hours of 2 December 1942. Force Q, a flotilla of Royal Navy cruisers and destroyers, attacked Convoy H, an Italian convoy and its Regia Marina escort of destroyers and torpedo boats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Espero Convoy</span> WWII battle between Italy and the Allies

The Battle of the Espero Convoy on 28 June 1940, was the first surface engagement between Italian and Allied warships of the Second World War. Three 36 kn Italian destroyers made a dash from Taranto for Tobruk in Libya to transport Blackshirt anti-tank units, in case of an armoured attack from Egypt by the British.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Alexandria (1941)</span> Italian frogman raid on British warships

The Raid on Alexandria was carried out on 19 December 1941 by Italian Navy divers of the Decima Flottiglia MAS, who attacked and sank two Royal Navy battleships at their moorings and damaged an oil tanker and a destroyer in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt, using manned torpedoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Souda Bay</span> Boat Assault on Royal Navy ships in Crete

The Raid on Souda Bay was an attack by the Decima MAS (X-MAS), a specialist unit of the Regia Marina that used unconventional weapons. X-MAS used explosive boats (MTM) against British ships lying in Souda Bay, Crete, during the early hours of 26 March 1941. The MTM explosive boats had been ferried from Astypalaia by the destroyers Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella and launched at the approaches to the bay. After crossing the three boom defences, the MTM attacked the British heavy cruiser HMS York and the Norwegian tanker Pericles (8,324 GRT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action in the Strait of Otranto</span> Naval action in World War II

The Action in the Strait of Otranto [also the Battle of the Strait of Otranto (1940)] was the destruction of an Italian convoy on 12 November 1940 during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War. It took place in the Strait of Otranto in the Adriatic Sea, between the Royal Navy and the Italian Royal Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Campobasso Convoy</span>

The Battle of the Campobasso Convoy was a naval engagement between three British Royal Navy destroyers and the Regia MarinaSpica-class torpedo boatPerseo which took place off Cape Bon in the Mediterranean Sea on the night of 3/4 May 1943. The Italians were escorting the 3,566-gross register ton (GRT) freighter Campobasso to Tunisia.

References

Further reading