04:00 The first of twenty Alcione torpedo-bombers escorted by eight Fait Freccia fighters from the Elma airfield.
04:01 The destroyers HMS Beagle, HMS Boreas, HMS Bulldog and HMS Eskimo finally put the Sardegna out of her misery with torpedo strikes to her starboard side. She immediately turned turtle and sank. The order to abandon ship had been given at 03:48. The thirteen minutes were used wisely and most of crew escaped in life-boats.
04:03 The order was given onboard the Conte di Cavour to abandon ship. She went to her final resting place at 04:51.
04:05 The Italian transport ship Antonietta Lauro was struck with two torpedoes from HMS Upholder. Twenty minutes later she sank taking almost 2,000 Italian and German ground troops to a watery grave.
04:12 HMS Upholder claims a second victim of the night sinking the transport Liguria.
RNAS Grendels continued to harass the Italian and German vessels. As AA tracer fire streaked skyward the illuminated the ships positions. The big guns of the battleships made mince-meat off the opposition. The destroyers Antonio Da Noli and Nembo were sunk by gunfire as well as the tanker Ardor and the cargo ships Neptunia and Oceania.
04:12 The submarine HMS Torbay claimed a kill on the destroyer Pantera. Struck with two torpedoes below the X and Y gun positions she quickly took on water and sunk stern first ten minutes later.
04:15 The surface vessels broke of their attack, proceeding to steam westward at full speed.
04:20 AS 10 aircraft spot enemy aircraft at 17,000 feet approaching from West-North-West at 200 knots. The American Wildcats were vectored to intercept.
04:25 recovery operations began on the five Allied aircraft-carriers.
04:30 The US Navy fighters swooped on the German formation. Guided by radar they managed to shoot down three of the bombers, all He111's.
04:40 The German bombers appeared over the carrier task-force. The AA cruisers Cambrian, Canterbury, Castor, Constance, Centaur and Concord lit the sky with both light and heavy guns in use. Four He 111 bombers and one Ju88 were shot down along with two of the returning Devastators. The Heinkles tried to carpet bomb the carriers from 17,000 feet but only five bombs hit the Constellation and three direct hits were made on the Ark Royal. The AA cruisers Castor and Concord sustained severe damage. The destroyers Martin and Meteor were also put out of action.
04:45 HMS Ark Royal began launching her Gallants and her strike aircraft were cross decked to Britannia. With the approach of dawn visibility was vastly improved and the returning Grendels attacked the German formations.
04:50 With the arrival of the Italians from Elma, the RNAS and USN fighter engaged in dogfights with the Freccia fighters. Five Italians were shot down, with another three badly damaged. The torpedo bombers had freedom to attack the warships. With debris falling all around them the first attack run was on Captain Barry's HMS Valiant. Of the four aircraft in the first wave, one aeroplane was hit with so much water, it pilot was temporarily blinded causing him to crash into the sea. A second was hit with so much 40mm rounds that she exploded and the shrapnel damaged the remaining pair causing them to release their payload harmlessly out to sea.
04:53 The attack on HMS Barham was more successful. Only one Italian was shot down, but skilful handling of his vessel Captain Cooke with the ship was only hit by two torpedoes, though holed the armoured belt did its job, though the ship could only manage 12 knots.
04:55 With the early morning light 48 Spitfires took off from RAF Djidjelli, RAF Tafaraoui and RAF Bone.
04:57 Lieutenant-Commander Wanklyn on HMS Upholder bagged his 3rd kill of the night when the troop transport Esperia was hit with two torpedoes.
04:01 The destroyers HMS Beagle, HMS Boreas, HMS Bulldog and HMS Eskimo finally put the Sardegna out of her misery with torpedo strikes to her starboard side. She immediately turned turtle and sank. The order to abandon ship had been given at 03:48. The thirteen minutes were used wisely and most of crew escaped in life-boats.
04:03 The order was given onboard the Conte di Cavour to abandon ship. She went to her final resting place at 04:51.
04:05 The Italian transport ship Antonietta Lauro was struck with two torpedoes from HMS Upholder. Twenty minutes later she sank taking almost 2,000 Italian and German ground troops to a watery grave.
04:12 HMS Upholder claims a second victim of the night sinking the transport Liguria.
RNAS Grendels continued to harass the Italian and German vessels. As AA tracer fire streaked skyward the illuminated the ships positions. The big guns of the battleships made mince-meat off the opposition. The destroyers Antonio Da Noli and Nembo were sunk by gunfire as well as the tanker Ardor and the cargo ships Neptunia and Oceania.
04:12 The submarine HMS Torbay claimed a kill on the destroyer Pantera. Struck with two torpedoes below the X and Y gun positions she quickly took on water and sunk stern first ten minutes later.
04:15 The surface vessels broke of their attack, proceeding to steam westward at full speed.
04:20 AS 10 aircraft spot enemy aircraft at 17,000 feet approaching from West-North-West at 200 knots. The American Wildcats were vectored to intercept.
04:25 recovery operations began on the five Allied aircraft-carriers.
04:30 The US Navy fighters swooped on the German formation. Guided by radar they managed to shoot down three of the bombers, all He111's.
04:40 The German bombers appeared over the carrier task-force. The AA cruisers Cambrian, Canterbury, Castor, Constance, Centaur and Concord lit the sky with both light and heavy guns in use. Four He 111 bombers and one Ju88 were shot down along with two of the returning Devastators. The Heinkles tried to carpet bomb the carriers from 17,000 feet but only five bombs hit the Constellation and three direct hits were made on the Ark Royal. The AA cruisers Castor and Concord sustained severe damage. The destroyers Martin and Meteor were also put out of action.
04:45 HMS Ark Royal began launching her Gallants and her strike aircraft were cross decked to Britannia. With the approach of dawn visibility was vastly improved and the returning Grendels attacked the German formations.
04:50 With the arrival of the Italians from Elma, the RNAS and USN fighter engaged in dogfights with the Freccia fighters. Five Italians were shot down, with another three badly damaged. The torpedo bombers had freedom to attack the warships. With debris falling all around them the first attack run was on Captain Barry's HMS Valiant. Of the four aircraft in the first wave, one aeroplane was hit with so much water, it pilot was temporarily blinded causing him to crash into the sea. A second was hit with so much 40mm rounds that she exploded and the shrapnel damaged the remaining pair causing them to release their payload harmlessly out to sea.
04:53 The attack on HMS Barham was more successful. Only one Italian was shot down, but skilful handling of his vessel Captain Cooke with the ship was only hit by two torpedoes, though holed the armoured belt did its job, though the ship could only manage 12 knots.
04:55 With the early morning light 48 Spitfires took off from RAF Djidjelli, RAF Tafaraoui and RAF Bone.
04:57 Lieutenant-Commander Wanklyn on HMS Upholder bagged his 3rd kill of the night when the troop transport Esperia was hit with two torpedoes.