Battle of Cape Spartivento

Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II

Top: Italian heavy cruiser Bolzano during the battle.
Bottom: British aircraft carrier Ark Royal straddled by enemy bombs

Date	27 November 1940
Location	Mediterranean Sea, near Sardinia, Italy
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Italy

Commanders and leaders

James Somerville

Inigo Campioni

Strength

1 carrier
1 battleship
1 battlecruiser
1 heavy cruiser
5 light cruisers
1 anti-aircraft cruiser
14 destroyers
4 corvettes
4 freighters

2 battleships
6 heavy cruisers
14 destroyers

Casualties and losses

1 heavy cruiser damaged
1 light cruiser slightly damaged

1 destroyer damaged
1 heavy cruiser slightly damaged

The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War, fought between naval forces of the British Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina on 27 November 1940.

On the night of 11 November 1940, the British incapacitated or destroyed half of the Italian fleet's battleships in a daring aerial assault as they lay at rest at Taranto. Until then, the Italians had left their capital ships in harbour, hoping its mere presence as a fleet in being would deter British shipping through the area, though they would not decline battle if given the opportunity.

Six days later, on the night of 17 November, an Italian force consisting of two battleships (Vittorio Veneto and Giulio Cesare) and a number of supporting units attempted to intercept two British aircraft carriers, HMS Ark Royal and Argus and their cruiser escorts, who were en route to Malta in an attempt to provide planes to reinforce that island's defenses (Operation White). The British were warned of their approach and immediately turned about and returned to Gibraltar, launching their aircraft (two Blackburn Skuas and 12 Hawker Hurricanes) prematurely. One Skua and eight Hurricanes were lost at sea, as they ran out of fuel well before arriving at their destination, with the loss of seven airmen.

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Wikipedia