Battle of Cape Bon (1941)
| Battle of Cape Bon | |||||||
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| Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War | |||||||
Italian light cruiser Alberto di Giussano, c. 1930 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Italy | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Graham Stokes | Antonino Toscano † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Nil |
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The naval Battle of Cape Bon took place on 13 December 1941 during the Second World War, between two Italian light cruisers and a British–Dutch destroyer flotilla, off Cape Bon in Tunisia.
The Italian cruisers were making a fast run to Libya to deliver aviation fuel and other freight that was urgently needed. Three British and a Dutch destroyers of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla were on transit from Gibraltar to Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Fleet when they were diverted to attack the cruisers.
The destroyers hugged the shore, where they were invisible from the sea and ambushed the cruisers, sinking both with about 900 men killed. The four destroyers continued their voyage to Alexandria.