Second battle of the Gulf of Syrte

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

Start: Friday March 20, 1942

Ending: Tuesday March 24, 1942

Convoy for Malta coming from Alexandria and escorted by Vian's Task Force. The convoy arrives after a surface combat against the Italians, who are numerically superior but do not dare to put off all the stops.

Place: Malta, Tunisia

	Allied	Axis
Forces	Vian (overall command. Departs from Alexandria to cover the convoy): 4 destroyers, 3 light cruisers. Escort (escort of the convoy from Alexandria): 6 destroyers, 1 anti aircraft cruiser. Jellicoe (leaves Tobrouk to join the escort of the convoy): 7 escort destroyers. Force K (leaves Malta to join the escort of the convoy): 1 destroyer, 1 light cruiser. Convoi MW 10 (leaves Alexandrion on May 20th): 1 oiler, 3 freighters. Total: 4 light cruisers, 1 anti aircraft cruiser, 11 destroyers, 7 escort destroyers, 3 freighters, 1 oiler	Iachino: 10 destroyers, 1 light cruiser, 2 heavy cruisers, 1 battleship.
Losses	2 escort destroyers, 3 freighters, 1 oiler lost. 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers damaged. The transports are sunk by airplanes the day after the surface battle. 2 are sunk in the Grand Harbor of Malta. 5000 of the loaded 26 000 tons of supply arrive.	2 destroyers lost. 1 light cruiser damaged. The losses are due to the storm.

Webmaster's question(s) and remark(s): The total of engaged Italian destroyers seems to be 10 or 11 although only 8 seem to have take part directly in the surface encounter.

Additional information on the web : [RegiaMarina1][RegiaMarina2][WorldWar2AtSea][Warships1]

Made by LemaireSoft on July 5, 2001