British Forces

BB  Warspite  Force B    Flagship: Vice-Admiral Andrew Cunningham
BB  Malaya  Force C, 1st Battle Div.
BB  Royal Sovereign Force C , 1st Battle Div. Vice-Admiral H.A. Pridham-Wippel
CL  Orion  Force B, 7th Cruiser Div. Vice-Admiral  Tovey
CL  Neptune  Force B, 7th Cruiser Div.
CL  Sydney  Force B, 7th Cruiser Div. Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
CL  Gloucester  Force B, 7th Cruiser Div.
CL  Liverpool  Force B, 7th Cruiser Div.
CV  Eagle
            No. 813 Sqn.  (17 Swordfish)
            No. 824 Sqn.  (3 Sea Gladiators)
DD  Nubian  Force B
DD  Mohawk  Force B
DD  Hero  Force B
DD  Hereward  Force B
DD  Decoy  Force B
DD   Stuart  Force B    RAN
DD  Hyperion  Force C
DD  Hostile  Force C
DD  Hasty  Force C
DD  Ilex   Force C
DD  Dainty  Force C
DD  Defender  Force C
DD  Juno  Force C
DD  Janus  Force C
DD  Vampire  Force C   RAN
DD  Voyager  Force C   RAN
 

Italian Forces

BB  Cavour  5th Div., 1st Sqn.  Vice-Admiral Inigo Camponi – Fleet Commander
BB  Cesare  5th Div., 1st Sqn.  Vice-Admiral Bruno Brivonesi – Div. Commander
CA  Zara  1st Div.   Admiral Matteucci
CA  Fiume  1st Div.
CA  Goriza  1st Div.
CA  Pola  2nd Sqn.    Vice- Admiral Riccardo Paladini – Sqn. Commander
CA  Bolzano  3rd Div.   Vice-Admiral Carlo Cattaneo – Div. Commander
CA  Trento  3rd Div.
CL  Eugenio Di Savoia 7th Div.   Vice-Admiral Luigi Sansonetti – Div. Commander
CL  Duca D’Aosta 7th Div.
CL  Attendolo  7th Div.
CL  Montecuccoli 7th Div.
CL  Da Barbiano  4th Div.   Rear-Adm. Marenco di Moriondo – Div. Commander
CL  Di Giussano  4th Div.
CL  Abruzzi  8th Div.   Rear-Adm. Antonio Legnani – Div. Commander
CL  Garibaldi  8th Div.
DD  Lanciere  12th DD Div.
DD  Carabinere  12th DD Div.
DD  Corazziere  12th DD Div.
DD  Ascari  12th DD Div.
DD  Alfieri  14th DD Div.
DD   Carducci  14th DD Div.
DD  Gioberti  14th DD Div.
DD  Oriani  14th DD Div.
DD  Artigliere  11th DD Div.
DD  Camicia Nera 11th DD Div.
DD  Aviere  11th DD Div.
DD  Geniere  11th DD Div.
DD  Granatiere  8th DD Div.
DD  Fuciliere  8th DD Div.
DD  Bersagliere  8th DD Div.
DD  Alpino  8th DD Div.
DD  Freccia  7th DD Div.
DD  Saetta  7th DD Div.
DD  Dardo  7th DD Div.
DD  Strale  7th DD Div.
DD  Folgore
DD  Fulmine
DD  Baleno
DD  Lampo
DD  Vivaldi  14th DD Div.
DD  Da Noli  14th DD Div.
DD  Pancaldo  14th DD Div.
DD  Pigafetta  15th DD Div.
DD  Zeno  15th DD Div.
DD  Da Recco  16th DD Div.
DD  Pessagno  16th DD Div.
DD  Usodimare  16th DD Div.

It should be noted that the not all of the Italian DD’s listed took part in the battle, but did sail with the fleet per Source No. 1.  Source No. 2  states that only twenty Italian DD’s took part in the actual battle.  The rest had to retire early due to mechanical failures and fuel shortages.  In fact four DD’s rejoined the Italian Fleet as the battle was taking place after refueling.  However, neither source actually details which Italian DD’s were present during the battle.  So, all the DD’s that sailed with the Italian Fleet are listed here.

Sources:
1. Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945 by J. Rohwer & G. Hummelchen
2. The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943 by J. Greene & A. Massignani