British Forces

7th Cruiser Squadron
CL Ajax * – Capt. E D B McCarthy

3rd Cruiser Squadron
CA York – Capt. Portal
CL Gloucester
CL Liverpool
 

Italian Forces

1st TB Flotilla
Cdr. Alberto Banfi
TB Airone (F) **
TB Alcione
TB Ariel **

11th Destroyer Flotilla
Capt. Carlo Margottini ⁺
DD Artigliere (F) **
DD Aviere *
DD Camicia Nera
DD Geniere

* Damaged
** Sunk
⁺ Killed in action

Forces that were sent from Messina on October 13th but arrive too late to provide assistance

3rd Cruiser Division
CA Trieste
CA Trento
CA Bolzano

14th Destroyer Flotilla
3 unnamed destroyers
 

Action Summary

This action occurred as the Italian Forces belatedly tried to intercept British naval forces returning from escorting Operation ‘MB.6’, a supply convoy to Malta.  The British 7th Cruiser Squadron was deployed in a extended scouting line with Ajax being the farthest out.  Spotting Ajax first, the Italian 1st TB Flotilla closed and launched 5 torpedoes, all of which missed.  Ajax responded with well-aimed fire, sinking Ariel and Airone and damaging Aviere and Artigliere.  Return fire resulted in four 10 cm hits from Airone, one of which set a fire that burned for three and a half hours and four 12 cm hits from Artigliere which caused moderate damage.  Artigliere was damaged in the exchange and lost power an hour after the action.  She was being towed by Camicia Nera when the British 3rd Cruiser Squadron showed up causing Camicia Nera to abandon the tow.  The cruiser York then sank Artigliere with a torpedo after failing to hit her with 8" gunfire.

Ajax had 13 KIA and 22 WIA.  Italian losses are not known, but Alcione rescued 125 crewmen from Ariel and Airone.

Ajax fired 490 6" shells, an unknown number of 4" shells and four torpedoes during the battle.
 

Sources

1. "The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943" by J. Greene & A. Massignani
2. "Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945" by J. Rohwer & G. Hummelchen
3. "Struggle for the Middle Sea" by Vincent P. O'Hara