Battle of Cape Spada
Bartolomeo Colleoni sinking
Conflict: World War II
Date: 19 July 1940
Place: Mediterranean near Crete
Result: Allied victory
Combatants
United Kingdom, Australia	Italy
Commanders
John Collins	Ferdinando Casardi
Strength
1 cruiser, 5 destroyers	2 cruisers
Casualties
—	1 cruiser sunk, 121+ killed
Battle of the Mediterranean Mers-el-Kebir – Calabria – Spada – Taranto – Spartivento – Matapan – Tarigo – Crete – Duisburg – Bon – 1st Sirte – 2nd Sirte – Harpoon – Pedestal – Torch – Skerki

The battle of Cape Spada was a naval battle of World War II fought in the Mediterranean off Cape Spada, the north-western extremity of Crete on 19 July 1940. RN Bartolomeo Colleoni sinking during the battle of Cape Spada. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Greece and Crete Crete, sometimes spelled Krete (Greek Κρήτη / Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. ... Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, KBE, CB, RAN (1899-1989) was one of the first graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College to attain flag rank. ... Battle of Mediterranean Conflict World War II Date Place Mediterranean Sea Result Allied victory The Naval Battle of the Mediterranean was waged during World War II, to attack and keep open the respective supply lines of Allied and Axis armies, and to destroy the opposing sides ability to wage... The Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, French North Africa (now Algeria), by the British Royal Navy took place on 3 July 1940. ... The Battle of Calabria, also known as the Battle of Punta Stilo, was a naval battle between ships of Italian Regia Marina on one side and the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy on the other. ... The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11 November – 12 November 1940 during World War II. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft naval battle in history, flying a small number of aircraft from a single aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and attacking the Italian... The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a minor engagement between naval forces of the British Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina on 27 November 1940, during World War II. The battle ended in a draw, but served to convince the... Battle of Cape Matapan Conflict World War II Date March 27, 1941 – March 29, 1941 Place Mediterranean off United Kingdom, Italy Commanders Andrew Cunningham Angelo Iachino Strength 3 battleships, 1 carrier, 7 light cruisers, 17 destroyers 1 battleship, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 17 destroyers Casualties 1 torpedo plane... To lose Crete because we had not sufficient bulk of forces there would be a crime. ... Second Battle of Sirte Conflict World War II Date 22 March 1942 Place Mediterranean, east of Malta Result Italian win The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the World War II. It took place on 22 March 1942, in... Military history records three operations named Harpoon. ... British shells fall astern of the Italian light cruiser Muzio Attendolo during the battle Operation Pedestal was an attempt to get vital supplies to the island of Malta during World War II in 1942. ... Operation Torch was the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started November 8, 1942. ... The French battleship Orient burns, 1 August 1798, during the Battle of the Nile A naval battle is a battle fought using ships or other waterborne vessels. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Greece and Crete Crete, sometimes spelled Krete (Greek Κρήτη / Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The battle occurred when an Allied squadron patrolling the Aegean encountered two Italian cruisers transferring from Italy to Leros, at that time an Italian colony in the Dodecanese Islands. The Allied squadron was commanded by the Australian Captain John Collins in the light cruiser HMAS Sydney and included the destroyers Havock, Hyperion, Hasty, Ilex, and Hero, while the Italian 2nd Cruiser Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Ferdinando Casardi and consisted of the high-speed light cruisers Giovanni delle Bande Nere and Bartolomeo Colleoni. Leros is a Greek island in the Dodecanese, in the Aegean Sea. ... The Dodecanese (Greek: Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa, meaning twelve islands) are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, off the southwest coast of Turkey. ... Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, KBE, CB, RAN (1899-1989) was one of the first graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College to attain flag rank. ... A light cruiser is a warship that is not so large and powerful as a regular (or heavy) cruiser, but still larger than ships like destroyers. ... The second HMAS Sydney was a modified Leander-class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy. ... HMS Havock (H43) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on 15 May 1935, launched on 7 July 1936 and commissioned on 18 January 1937. ... HMS Hyperion (H97) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, named after the Greek mythological character Hyperion. ... HMS Hasty (H24) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on 15 April 1935, launched on 5 May 1936 and commissioned on 11 November 1936. ... HMS Ilex (D61), named after the Holly genus, was an I-class destroyer laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 10 March 1936, launched on 28 January 1937 and commissioned on 7 July 1937. ... HMS Hero (H99) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the High Walker Yard of Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 28 February 1935, launched on 10 March 1936 and commissioned on 23 October 1936. ... Giovanni dalle Bande Nere was an Italian Condottieri class light cruiser, that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. Her keel was laid down 1928 at Cantieri Navali di Castellammare di Stabia, Castellammare di Stabia; she was launched on 27 April 1930, and her construction was completed in...

When the Italians encountered the Allied destroyers at about 07:30, Sydney and Havock were 40 miles (64 km) to the north on a sweep for submarines. The other destroyers led the Italians cruisers on a chase northwards to give Sydney time to come to the rescue. Sydney sighted the Italians at 08:26, opened fire at 08:29, and the Italian cruisers turned away to the southwest.

In the running battle which followed, Bartolomeo Colleoni was hard hit by Sydney, and after a shell locked the rudder (at 09:23) she stopped dead in the water. She fought on, but unable to manoeuvre she was sunk by torpedoes from Ilex and Hyperion at 09:59. The Sydney disengaged because was short of ammunitions, and the Giovanni dalle Bande Nere returned to Benghazi. 555 survivors of Bartolomeo Colleoni were rescued; 121 died. Benghazi (Arabic بنغازي, transliterated Banġāzī) is a seaport in Libya, Africa. ...

Order of Battle

Regia Marina

• Rear Admiral Ferdinando Casardi
  • 2 light cruisers: Bartolomeo Colleoni (sunk), Giovanni dalle Bande Nere

Ensign of the Regia Marina. ... A light cruiser is a warship that is not so large and powerful as a regular (or heavy) cruiser, but still larger than ships like destroyers. ... Giovanni dalle Bande Nere was an Italian Condottieri class light cruiser, that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. Her keel was laid down 1928 at Cantieri Navali di Castellammare di Stabia, Castellammare di Stabia; she was launched on 27 April 1930, and her construction was completed in...

Allies

• Captain John Collins
  • Royal Australian Navy: 1 light cruiser: HMAS Sydney (slightly damaged)
  • Royal Navy: 5 destroyers: Hasty, Havock (damaged) Hero, Hyperion, Ilex

The source for an SVG image of the Royal Australian Navy Ensign can be found at User:David Newton/SVG Graphics/Royal Australian Navy Ensign. ... The second HMAS Sydney was a modified Leander-class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy. ... The source for an SVG image of the White Ensign can be found at User:David Newton/SVG Graphics/White Ensign. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... HMS Hasty (H24) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on 15 April 1935, launched on 5 May 1936 and commissioned on 11 November 1936. ... HMS Havock (H43) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on 15 May 1935, launched on 7 July 1936 and commissioned on 18 January 1937. ... HMS Hero (H99) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the High Walker Yard of Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 28 February 1935, launched on 10 March 1936 and commissioned on 23 October 1936. ... HMS Hyperion (H97) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, named after the Greek mythological character Hyperion. ... HMS Ilex (D61), named after the Holly genus, was an I-class destroyer laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 10 March 1936, launched on 28 January 1937 and commissioned on 7 July 1937. ...

Reference

Action off Cape Spada