Battle of the Messina Convoy

Battle of the Messina Convoy
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War
Gulf of Squillace Battle Cape Spartivento Battle of the Messina Convoy (Calabria)
Date Night 1/2 June 1943 Location Gulf of Squillace on the Calabrian coast Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Greece	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Tony Pugsley Georgios Blessas	Marino Fasan †
Strength
HMS Jervis Vasilissa Olga 1 Wellington bomber	Castore merchant ships Vragnizza, Postumia
Casualties and losses
	Castore sunk 2 steamers damaged

The Battle of the Messina Convoy was a naval action fought on the night of 1/2 June 1943 off the Calabrian coast, near Cape Spartivento between the Allied destroyers HMS Jervis and the Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga of the 14th Destroyer Flotilla and an Italian convoy of the merchant ships Vragnizza and Postumia escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Castore. The merchant ships managed to slip away but Castore, sank a couple of hours after the engagement.

On the fast return of the destroyers towards Malta, to get inside the range of Allied fighter cover, Vaasilissa Olga suffered a mechanical failure and was stopped for an hour while effecting repairs but the destroyers returned undamaged. The merchant ships, Castore and another torpedo boat (which was not present) were claimed sunk.