Cape Matapan

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

Start: Thursday March 27, 1941

Ending: Saturday March 29, 1941

The Italian fleet trying to interrupt the convoys between Greece and Alexandria, attacks a group of British cruisers off Cap Gavdo (see), and then is attacked by British planes which force its retreat. Italian straddlers are assaulted during the night by a task force of British batttleships and destroyers off Cape Matapan (see).

Place: Creta

	Allied	Axis
Forces	Cunningham (Force A, coming from Alexandria): 1 carrier, 3 battleships, 9 destroyers. Pridham-Whippel (Force B, Vanguard of the British fleet): 4 light cruisers, 4 destroyers. Total: 1 carrier, 3 battleships, 4 light cruisers, 13 destroyers	Iachino (commands the Italian fleet leaving Taranto): 1 battleship, 2 light cruisers, 10 destroyers. Cattaneo: 3 heavy cruisers, 4 destroyers. Sansonetti: 3 heavy cruisers, 3 destroyers. Lero (5th group submarine): 5 submarines. Total: 1 battleship, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 17 destroyers, 5 submarines
Losses	Nil.	3 heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers lost. 1 battleship damaged.

Webmaster's question(s) and remark(s): Only the ships in the combat groups are added.
What was the exact composition of the convoys AG 9 and GA 8 between Greece and Alexandria during the battle off Cape Matapan ? What is the role of Force D ?

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Made by LemaireSoft on June 30, 2001