Battle of Skerki Bank

Battle of Skerki Bank
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean
Nicoloso da Recco
Date 2 December 1942 Location Skerki Bank, Mediterranean Sea 37°45′12″N 10°57′12″E / 37.75333°N 10.95333°E / 37.75333; 10.95333 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Australia	Italy Germany
Commanders and leaders
Cecil Harcourt	Aldo Cocchia
Strength
3 light cruisers 2 destroyers	3 destroyers 2 torpedo boats 2 troopships 1 ferry 1 motor raft
Casualties and losses
splinter damage	c. 2,200 killed 1 destroyer sunk 1 destroyer damaged 2 torpedo boats damaged 2 troopships sunk 1 ferry sunk 1 motor raft sunk

The Battle of Skerki Bank was an engagement during the Second World War which took place near Skerki Bank in the Mediterranean Sea in the early hours of 2 December 1942. Force Q, a flotilla of Royal Navy cruisers and destroyers, attacked Convoy H, an Italian convoy and its Regia Marina escort of destroyers and torpedo boats.

Force Q sank the four Italian merchant ships and one of the escorting destroyers in exchange for minor splinter damage. Force Q was attacked by Luftwaffe torpedo bombers at 06:30 on 3 December, sinking the destroyer Quentin with one torpedo and damaging the destroyer Quiberon. The battle was the first and most significant success for Force Q.