Battle of the Messina Convoy
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean and the Second World War
Date2 June 1943
Location
Cape Spartivento, Calabria
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Greece		  Italy
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Captain A. F. Pugsley
Kingdom of Greece Georgios Blessas		 Kingdom of Italy Marino Fasan †
Strength
HMS Jervis
Vasilissa Olga
1 Wellington bomber		 1 Spica-class torpedo boat
2 steamers
Casualties and losses
None 1 Spica-class torpedo boat sunk
2 steamers damaged

The Battle of the Messina Convoy was a night naval action fought on 2 June 1943 off Cape Spartivento, Calabria, between an Allied flotilla composed of the British destroyer HMS Jervis and the Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga and an Italian convoy escorted by the Spica-class torpedo boat Castore.

Battle

The British destroyer HMS Jervis and the Greek Vasilissa Olga carried out a night search along the Gulf of Squillace, where they found a small two-steamer convoy escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Castore at approximately 1:45 am. Supported by a Wellington bomber which dropped flares on the target, the Allied units engaged the Italian steamers Vragnizza (1592 GRT) and Postumia (595 GRT), which were carrying supplies and ammunitions. The destroyers lost track of the convoy after the intervention of the escort, which laid smoke and returned fire. Castore was disabled and sank before sunrise, but her counterattack allowed the steamers to limp away. Vragnizza and Postumia, both damaged during the action, reached Messina at 16:30 (4:30 pm).[1][2][3]

References

  1. ↑ "RHS Vasilissa Olga (D 15) of the Royal Hellenic Navy - Greek Destroyer of the Vasilefs Georgios class – Allied Warships of WWII – uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  2. ↑ O'Hara, Vincent (2013). Struggle for the Middle Sea. Naval Institute Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-1612514086.
  3. ↑ "HMS Jervis (F 00) - Destroyer of the J class". uboat.net. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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