Operation Excess

Operation Excess
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
A later image taken from Illustrious showing Valiant in the background. Both ships were part of Force A and the closest aircraft are Fulmar fighters of the type defending operation Excess.
Date January 10–11, 1941 Location South of Sicily 37°30′N 14°00′E / 37.500°N 14.000°E / 37.500; 14.000 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Australia	Italy  Germany
Strength
1 aircraft carrier 2 battleships 3 cruisers 7 destroyers	2 destroyers unknown number of Stuka dive-bombers and fighters
Casualties and losses
1 aircraft carrier damaged 1 cruiser sunk 1 cruiser damaged 1 destroyer damaged beyond repair	1 torpedo boat sunk 8 aircraft shot down (British claim)

Operation Excess was a series of British supply convoys to Malta, Alexandria and Greece in January 1941. The operation was the first to encounter Luftwaffe anti-shipping aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea. All the convoyed freighters reached their destinations. The destroyer Gallant was disabled by Italian mines and Axis bombers severely damaged the cruiser Southampton and the aircraft carrier Illustrious.