Battle of the Espero Convoy

Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II

HMS Orion, Vice-Admiral Tovey's flagship

Date	28 June 1940
Location	Mediterranean, southwest of Crete
Result	See Aftermath section

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Australia

Italy

Commanders and leaders

Vice-Admiral John Tovey

Captain Enrico Baroni †

Strength

5 cruisers

3 destroyers

Casualties and losses

1 cruiser lightly damaged

1 destroyer sunk
150–180 dead
47 captured

The Battle of the Espero Convoy was the first Second World War surface engagement between Italian and Allied warships. It took place southwest of Crete on 28 June 1940, after a force of seven cruisers and 16 destroyers, preparing to escort three Allied convoys to Alexandria, were informed of the presence of an Italian flotilla of three destroyers. The Italian warships were bound from Taranto to Tobruk, carrying an anti-tank army unit to North Africa.

On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France. The Italian High Command (Comando Supremo) expected a British Army advance into Cyrenaica led by armoured forces, and decided that an anti-tank unit should be moved to Tobruk as soon as possible. The unit comprised ten anti-tank guns, 120 short tons (110 t) of ammunition, and 162 soldiers.

The Italians chose three Turbine-class destroyers to transport the anti-tank unit, for their high speed (36 kn (41 mph; 67 km/h)) and loading capacity. The three chosen were Espero (flagship), Zeffiro and Ostro. The Italian flotilla was commanded by Capitano di Vascello Enrico Baroni. Two smaller WWI-era escort vessels, the Pilo and the Missori, which carried 52 troops and additional supplies, departed independently for Tobruk some hours later.

At the same time, three Allied convoys—two from Malta and another from Greece—were to be brought to Alexandria, covered by seven cruisers (two light cruisers—HMS Capetown and Caledon—and five of the 7th Cruiser Squadron: HMS Orion (flagship),Liverpool, Gloucester, Neptune and HMAS Sydney) and 16 destroyers. The British warships were commanded by Vice-Admiral John Tovey. The Allied operation was supported by Short Sunderland flying boats from Alexandria and Malta.

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Wikipedia