Battle of Cerigotto (or Cape Sapada)

Battle of Cerigotto (or Cape Sapada)

Start: Friday July 19, 1940

Two Italian cruisers sent to hinder the British shipping south of Greece meet a group of destroyers. They try to escape when a British cruiser appears but one of them is destroyed during the retreat. That is the first Italian cruiser lost during the war.

Place: Creta

Type: Gun battle

	Allies	Axis
Forces	2nd Destroyer flotilla, attacked by the Italian cruisers: 4 destroyers. Force A (reinforcement sent from Alexandria. They join after the start of the engagement): 1 light cruiser, 1 destroyer. Total: 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers	Casardi (2nd Cruiser division): 2 light cruisers.
Losses	1 destroyer damaged. (by an air attack on the way back).	1 light cruiser lost.