Battle off Zuwarah

Battle off Zuwarah
Part of the Mediterranean theatre of World War II

HMS Javelin (1941)
Date19/20 January 1943
Location32°56′N 12°05′E / 32.933°N 12.083°E / 32.933; 12.083
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom  Italy
Commanders and leaders
Michael Townsend Giuseppe Di Bartolo 
Strength
2 destroyers 6 minesweepers
1 trawler
1 patrol boat
1 pump boat[1]
Casualties and losses
7 wounded 180 killed
6 minesweepers sunk
1 trawler sunk
1 patrol boat sunk
1 pump boat sunk[2]

The Battle off Zuwarah (19/20 January 1943) was a naval night encounter during the Second World War. The battle took place in Libyan waters between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina. An Italian flotilla of small minesweepers and auxiliary vessels evacuating Tripoli was destroyed by two British destroyers.

  1. ^ Tomblin 2004, p. 104.
  2. ^ O'Hara 2009, p. 206.