Order of Battle
First Battle of Sirte
17 December 1941
Contributed by Dan Muir

British/Dutch/Australian Forces:

CL  Naiad        Force B, 15th Cruiser Squadron
   Rear-Adm. Philip Vian—Force commander
CL  Euryalus    Force B, 15th Cruiser Squadron
CL  Carlisle     Force B
DD  Jervis  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Capt. P. J. Mack—Flotilla Commander
DD  Kimberley Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Lt. Commander J. S. M. Richardson
DD  Kingston Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Lt. Commander P. Sommerville
DD  Kipling  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Commander A. St. Clair-Ford
DD  Nizam  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  (RAN)
DD  Havock  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Lt. G. R. G. Watkins
DD  Hasty  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla
DD  Decoy  Force B, 14th DD Flotilla  Commander E. G. McGregor

CL  Aurora      Force K    Capt. W. G. Agnew
CL  Penelope Force K    Capt. A. D. Nichol
CL  Neptune   Force K    Capt. R. O’Conner
DD  Sikh  Force K, 4th DD Flotilla  Cmdr.  G. H. Stokes—Flotilla Commander
DD  Maori  Force K, 4th DD Flotilla  Commander R. E. Courage
DD  Legion  Force K, 4th DD Flotilla  Commander R. F. Jessel
DD  Isaac Sweers Force K, 4th DD Flotilla  Commander T. Houtsmiller (Dutch)

DD  Jaguar      Lt. Commander J. F. W. Hine
DD  Kandahar     Commander W. G. A. Robson

Trans. Breconshire     Transport/Auxiliary


Italian Forces: Escorting Convoy M42

BB Duilio  Close Covering Force (CCF)/M42
   Vice Admiral Carlo Bergami
CL  Duca d’Aosta 7th Div., CCF   Rear-Adm. Conte de Courten—Div. Cmdr.
CL  Attendolo 7th Div., CCF
CL  Montecuccoli 7th Div., CCF
DD  Ascari  CCF
DD  Aviere  CCF
DD  Camicia Nera CCF

BB  Doria  Distant Covering Force (DCF)/M42
BB  Cesare  DCF
BB  Littorio  DCF    Vice-Admiral Angelo Iachino—Fleet Cmdr.
CA  Gorizia  3rd Div., DCF   Rear-Admiral Angelo Parona—Div. Cmdr.
CA  Trento  3rd Div, DCF
DD  Grantiere DCF
DD  Bersagliere DCF
DD  Alpino  DCF
DD  Fuciliere DCF
DD  Corazziere DCF
DD  Carabiniere DCF
DD  Usodimare DCF
DD  Maestrale DCF
DD  Oriani  DCF
DD  Gioberti  DCF

DD  Vivaldi  Close Escort (CE)/M42
DD  Da Noli  CE
DD  Da Recco CE
DD  Malocello CE
DD  Pessango CE
DD  Zeno  CE
DD  Saetta  CE
TB  Pegaso  CE

Convoy vessels of M42
MS Monginevro     Motorship (MS)
MS Napoli
MS Vettor Pisani
FR Ankara      Freighter (FR) (German)

Resources:
1. The Battles of the Malta Striking Forces by P. Smith & E. Walker
2. Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945 by J. Rohwer & G. Hummelchen
3. The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943 by J. Greene & A. Massignani
4. The Italian Navy in WWII by A. Bragadin