Operation Grog | |||||||
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Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II | |||||||
Armour-piercing shell fired by HMS Malaya, in the nave of Genoa Cathedral | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United Kingdom | Italy | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
James Somerville | Ferdinando Casardi | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Anti-aircraft and coastal artillery | |||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 Swordfish aircraft |
5 cargo ships sunk 18 damaged (British sources) 1 training ship sunk 2 ships damaged (Italian sources) 14 lighters sunk[1] 144 killed and 242 wounded Severe damage to port[2] |
Operation Grog was the name assigned to the British naval and air bombardment of Genoa and La Spezia on 9 February 1941, by the Royal Navy's Force H, consisting of the battleship HMS Malaya, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, battlecruiser HMS Renown, and light cruiser HMS Sheffield screened by ten fleet destroyers including HMS Fearless, HMS Foxhound, HMS Foresight, HMS Fury, HMS Firedrake and HMS Jersey.[3][4]