Battle off Cape Passero

Battle off Cape Passero

[Diagram by types of ship][Diagram by Task Groups]

Start: Friday October 11, 1940

Ending: Saturday October 12, 1940

The Mediterranean fleet had escorted the convoy MB-6 with four merchant ships to Malta and was going back to Alexandria escorting three empty merchant ships. The 7th cruiseur division was covering the northern flank of the fleet. Italian ships, in night patrol in the Channel of Sicily, tried to intercept the convoy.
It was a two stage gun battle. First at 1:37 on October 12th the 1st torpedo-boat squad. sighted the Ajax and attacked her with torpedo and gunfire. All torpedoes missed an only three shells hit home. AJAX return fire sinking AIRONE and ARIEL. Then, at 2:10, the 11th destroyer squadron came into play. However they attacked piecemeal, obtaining only four hits with their guns (again all torpedoes missed). Return fire from AJAX damaged AVIERE and ARTIGLIERE, the latter heavily. ARTIGLIERE was then intercepted and finished off by YORK next morning while straggling towards home, assisted by CAMICIA NERA. Damage to AJAX was sensible but not serious. She suffered 13 killed, 22 wounded and was repaired and back in action by November, 5th
(Historical research and text by Leonardo Ciaccheri)

Place: Central Mediterranean Sea

Type: Gun battle

	Britain	Italy
Forces	McCarthy: 1 light cruiser. Joined the next day by 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers.	Banfi (1st torpedo boat flotilla): 3 fleet torpedo boats. Margottini (11th destroyer flotilla): 4 destroyers. Total: 4 destroyers, 3 fleet torpedo boats
Losses	-	2 fleet torpedo boats lost. 1 destroyer damaged. The damaged destroyer is finished the following day.