Operation Substance

Operation Substance
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War

Cloud of smoke over the Mediterranean Sea from a hit destroyer - possibly HMS Fearless. In the foreground is the battleship HMS Nelson.
Date13–28 July 1941
Location
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 Italy
Commanders and leaders
James Somerville
Strength
1 aircraft carrier
1 battleship
1 battlecruiser
4 light cruisers
18 destroyers
13 merchant ships
3 torpedo boats
1 submarine
4 MAS boats
9 torpedo bombers
4 medium bombers
Casualties and losses
1 destroyer sunk
1 light cruiser damaged
1 destroyer damaged
2 merchant ships damaged
6 aircraft
35 killed
12 aircraft

Operation Substance was a British naval operation in July 1941 during the Second World War to escort Convoy GM 1, the first of the series from Gibraltar to Malta.[1] The convoy, escorted by Force H, was attacked by Italian submarines, aircraft and MAS boats (Motoscafo armato silurante, motor torpedo boats).

  1. ^ Hague 2000, p. 192.