Battle of Cape Bon (1941) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cape Bon |
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| Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War | |||||||
 Italian light cruiser Alberto da Giussano, c. 1930 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom Netherlands |
 Italy |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Graham Stokes |
Antonino Toscano † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 4 destroyers | 2 light cruisers 1 torpedo boat |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 817 killed 2 light cruisers sunk |
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The Battle of Cape Bon was a quick naval fight during Second World War on December 13, 1941. It happened near Cape Bon in Tunisia. In this battle, two Italian ships called light cruisers faced off against a group of Allied destroyers. The Allied forces won this important battle.
Contents
Why This Battle Happened
Control of the Mediterranean Sea
When Italy joined the war in June 1940, its navy, the Regia Marina, was very large. However, it mostly stayed in the Mediterranean Sea. The British Empire had many ships and could replace any losses easily. This made the Italian navy careful and often unwilling to fight.
Both sides wanted to control the Mediterranean Sea. This sea was super important for sending supplies to Italian and German forces in North Africa. It was also vital for keeping Malta as a British base. Without Malta, Britain could not stop Italian supply ships.
British Advantages and Axis Supply Problems
The British had two big advantages. First, they had radar, which helped them find ships in the dark or bad weather. Second, they could break Italian secret codes. This meant they often knew what the Italian navy was planning.
By late 1941, the Axis forces in Libya were in big trouble. British ships, especially a group called Force K, had sunk many Italian supply ships. This meant the Axis forces lost almost 70% of their supplies. They lost 92% of their fuel, which was a huge problem.
German leaders reported that their air force in North Africa was running out of fuel. Italian and German forces in North Africa were facing a new Allied attack called Operation Crusader. They urgently needed fuel and ammunition.
Emergency Supply Plan
To solve this problem, the Italian navy command, called Supermarina, made an emergency plan. They decided to use fast warships to carry supplies. They chose two light cruisers, the Alberico da Barbiano and the Alberto di Giussano. These ships were fast but did not have strong armor. They were commanded by Admiral Antonino Toscano.
The ships loaded about 50 tons of supplies and 22 tons of aviation fuel. This fuel was in open barrels on the back of the ships. This was very risky because it could easily catch fire if hit. It also meant the ships could not use their back guns unless they threw the fuel overboard.
First Attempt Fails
The two cruisers left Palermo on December 9, 1941. A British plane spotted them that night. This plane was guided by the secret code-breaking information. Admiral Toscano decided to turn back because he had lost the element of surprise. He also knew that bad weather would slow them down, making them easy targets. The ships returned to Palermo on December 10. Toscano was criticized for turning back.
Getting Ready for Battle
A Second Try for Supplies
A new supply convoy was planned for December 13. But planes in Libya needed fuel from Italy to protect it. So, on December 12, it was decided that the two cruisers would try again. Another cruiser, the Bande Nere, was supposed to join them. But it broke down, so its cargo was moved to the other two ships.
The Da Barbiano and Di Giussano were loaded with 100 tons of aviation fuel, 250 tons of gasoline, 600 tons of naphtha, and 900 tons of food. They also carried 135 sailors going to Tripoli. The back of the Da Barbiano was so full of fuel barrels that its guns could not turn. Toscano told his officers that if they met enemy ships, they would throw the barrels overboard.
The two cruisers and one torpedo boat, Cigno, left Palermo at 6:10 PM on December 12. They were ordered to sail along the coast of Tunisia towards Cape Bon. They would travel at a steady speed to save fuel.
British Plans to Intercept
Meanwhile, a British group of four destroyers, led by Commander G. H. Stokes, was sailing from Gibraltar. These ships were HMS Sikh, HMS Maori, HMS Legion, and the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Isaac Sweers.
By December 8, the British had already decoded Italian messages about the supply mission. On December 12, the British destroyers were ordered to speed up and intercept the Italian ships.
An Italian plane spotted the British destroyers on December 12. The Italian navy thought the British ships would not reach Cape Bon until after their cruisers. So, Admiral Toscano was not told to speed up or change course.
However, new British code-breaking information helped them track Toscano's ships. The British destroyers increased their speed to 30 knots. Also, the Italian ships were an hour behind schedule. This meant the British would arrive much earlier than the Italians expected. At 10:23 PM, Toscano was warned that he might meet "enemy steamers." He ordered his crew to prepare for battle.
The Battle Begins
Night Attack Near Cape Bon
The British destroyers saw the Italian cruisers near Cape Bon at 2:30 AM on December 13. At 2:45 AM, the Italian ships heard a British plane. This plane had radar and told the British destroyers where the Italian ships were.
At 3:15 AM, the Italian ships changed course. Five minutes later, Admiral Toscano suddenly ordered full speed and a sharp turn, reversing their direction. This sudden change messed up the Italian formation. The torpedo boat Cigno and the cruiser Di Giussano did not get the order right away. Di Giussano saw the lead ship turn and followed, but was out of line. Cigno was far behind.
Surprise Attack by Destroyers
Stokes's destroyers were very close to Cape Bon. They came from behind the Italian ships, hidden by the darkness and using their radar. The British ships sailed close to the shore. They surprised the Italians, who were further out at sea. The British launched torpedoes from a short distance.
The Italian ships' sudden turn made them meet the British ships even faster. The Allied destroyers attacked together. The Sikh fired its guns and four torpedoes at Da Barbiano. The Legion did the same. The Isaac Sweers fired at Di Giussano, and the Maori fired six torpedoes at Di Giussano.
Admiral Toscano ordered full speed and to open fire. But at 3:22 AM, before its guns could fire, the Da Barbiano was hit by a torpedo. It was hit below its front gun turret and began to lean to one side. The ship was then hit by machine gun fire, which killed many sailors and set the fuel barrels on fire. A second torpedo hit the engine room.
Italian Cruisers Sunk
At 3:26 AM, the Maori fired two more torpedoes at Da Barbiano and hit its bridge with gunfire. The cruiser was hit by another torpedo at the back. The Di Giussano was also hit by a torpedo and gunfire, leaving it unable to move. The land behind the British destroyers made it impossible for the Italians to see them. The Di Giussano only managed to fire three times.
In just five minutes, both Italian cruisers were badly damaged. The Da Barbiano quickly leaned over, and fires spread everywhere, even into the sea from the floating fuel. The crew had to abandon the ship. At 3:35 AM, the Da Barbiano flipped over and sank in a sea of flames. Admiral Toscano, Captain Giorgio Rodocanacchi, and 532 other men were lost.
The Di Giussano was dead in the water and burning. The crew tried to save the ship, but they also had to abandon it. It broke in two and sank at 4:20 AM, with the loss of 283 men. The Italian torpedo boat Cigno rescued nearly 500 survivors. Others reached the coast, and 145 more men were saved later by Italian motor torpedo boats. In total, Italy lost 817 men in this battle.
Aftermath
The Battle of Cape Bon was a clear victory for the Allies. It showed the importance of radar and code-breaking in naval warfare. The loss of the two cruisers and their vital supplies was a big blow to the Axis forces in North Africa.
Images for kids
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Italian light cruiser Alberto da Giussano, c. 1930
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Example of a CANT Z.1007, an Italian reconnaissance plane
