Force B
| Force B | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940–1942 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Engagements |
Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of Calabria Operation MB8 Battle of Cape Matapan Operation Judgement First Battle of Sirte Asiatic-Pacific Theater Indian Ocean raid |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Bernard Rawlings Algernon Willis Andrew Cunningham Henry Pridham-Wippell |
Force B was the name of several British Royal Navy task forces during the Second World War.
Force B was formed by the Mediterranean Fleet it saw action at the Battle of Calabria also (known to the Italian Navy as the Battle of Punta Stilo) in July 1940 under the command of Vice Admiral Andrew Cunningham.
In November 1940 it was involved in Operation MB8, a multi-faceted operation involving several forces with different but co-ordinated aims. During this period Force B comprised the cruisers HMS Ajax and HMAS Sydney and delivered reinforcements to Crete. The force sailed on 4 November with convoy AN 6 en route to Greece, departing that evening to Crete, then heading north to join Force A (cruiser HMS Orion) at Pireaus. From there the combined force under the command of Vice Admiral Henry Pridham-Wippell moved east into the Straits of Otranto to divert the Italian Fleet whilst the balance of the British forces attacked the port of Taranto in Operation Judgement. Whilst in the straits, the cruisers intercepted an Italian convoy of four ships and destroyed three.
In March 1941, again under Pridham-Whippel, Ajax and the cruisers Orion, HMS Gloucester and HMAS Perth formed Force B in an operation to bring the Italian fleet to battle, resulting in the Battle of Cape Matapan.
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