The Naval Battle of the Mediterranean was waged during World War II, to attack and keep open the respective supply lines of Allied and Axis armies, and to destroy the opposing side's ability to wage war at sea.
Outside of the Pacific War battles, the Mediterranean saw the largest conventional naval warfare during WWII. In particular, Allied forces struggled to supply and retain the key naval and air base of Malta.
Italy's declaration war
On June 10, 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France. The following day, Italian bombers attacked Malta, the first of many raids. When France surrendered on June 24, the Axis leaders permitted the new Vichy French regime to retain its naval forces.
The French Mediterranean Fleet
The French navy in the Mediterranean was a threat to the Royal Navy so it was imperative for the British that this threat was neutralised. The French squadron at Alexandria in Egypt was dealt with via negotiations, mainly because the two commanders, Admirals Godfroy and Cunningham, were on good personal terms. The bulk of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir in North Africa was destroyed on July 3 1940 by the British after refusing to surrender. The Vichy French government broke off all ties with the British as a result. See Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir.
Battle of Taranto
To reduce the threat posed by the Italian fleet based in the port of Taranto to convoys sailing from Alexandria to Malta, Admiral Cunningham organised an attack code named Operation Judgement by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Illustrious on the Italian fleet while still at anchor. This was the first time in history that an attack such as this had been attempted it was a great success and on November 11 1940, the Royal Navy crippled or destroyed three Italian battleships in the Battle of Taranto. This decisive Allied victory, forced the Italian fleet to Italian ports further north out of range of attack by carrier based aircraft which reduced the threat of them sallying out and attacking Malta bound convoys.
The Battle of Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan was a decisive Allied victory, fought off the Peloponnesus coast of Greece from March 27 to March 29, 1941 in which British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces under the command of the British Admiral Andrew Cunningham intercepted those of the Italian Regia Marina, under Admiral Angelo Iachino .
The Allies sank the heavy cruisers Fiume , Zara and Pola and the destroyers Vittorio Alfieri and Giosue Carducci, and damaged the battleship Vittorio Veneto. The British lost one torpedo plane and suffered light damage to some ships.
Crete
The evacuation of Allied land forces after their defeat by German paratroops in the Battle of Crete during May 1941, cost the Allied navies a number of ships. During the evacuation Cunningham was determined that the "navy must not let the army down". When army generals stated their fears that he would lose too many ships Cunningham said that "It takes three years to build a ship, it takes three centuries to build a tradition". Despite these words the Battle of Crete was a decisive Axis victory.
Malta
Malta lies in the middle of the Mediterranean south of Italy. It was in the perfect strategic position to interdict Axis supplies destined for north Africa. For a time it looked as if Malta would be starved into submission by the use of Axis aircraft flying from bases in Italy. The turning point in the siege came in August 1942, When the British sent a very heavily defended convoy codenamed Operation Pedestal. Once Malta had been supplied with Spitfire fighters carried to the Island by HMS Furious during Operation Pedestal. These fighters along with the other vital supplies of materiel, lifted the siege of Malta. The British re-established a creditable air garrison on the island. With the aid of Ultra Malta garrison was able to decimate the Axis supplies to North Africa immediately before the Second Battle of El Alamein. For the fortitude and courage of the Maltese during the seige, Malta was awarded the George Cross.
Great Allied Invasions
- 8 November 1942, start of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Vichy-controlled Morocco and Algeria.
- 3 September 1943, start of Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.
- 3 September 1943, start of the Allied invasion of Italy.
- 9 September 1943, start of the Allied Salerno landings in Italy.
- 22 January 1944, start of Operation Shingle, the Allied landings at Anzio in Italy.
- 15 August 1944, start of Operation Dragoon, the Allied landings in southern France.
Aegean Sweep
