Battle of Cape Spada - Definition and Overview

The battle of Cape Spada was a naval battle of World War II fought in the Mediterranean off Cape Spada, the north-western extremity of Crete on 19 July 1940

An Allied squadron commanded by Captain J. A. Collins in the light cruiser HMAS Sydney together with the destroyers Havock, Hyperion, Hasty, Ilex, and Hero, encountered the Italian 2nd Cruiser Division commanded by Rear Admiral Ferdinando Casardi of the high-speed light cruisers Giovanni dalle Bande Nere and Bartolomeo Colleoni.

When the Italians encountered the Allied destroyers at about 07:30, Sydney and Havoc were 40 miles (64 km) to the north on a sweep for submarines. The other destroyers led the Italians cruisers on a chase northwards to give Sydney time to come to the rescue. Sydney sighted the Italians at 08:26, opened fire at 08:29, and the Italian cruisers turned away to the southwest.

In the running battle which followed, Bartolomeo Colleoni was hard hit by Sydney, and after a shell locked the rudder (at 09:23) she stopped dead in the water. She fought on, but unable to manoeuvre she was sunk by torpedoes from Ilex and Hyperion at 09:59. Only the very high speed of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere saved her from a similar fate. 555 survivors of Bartolomeo Colleoni were rescued; 121 died.

Order of Battle

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Kingdom of Italy

Regia Marina

• rear admiral Ferdinando Casardi
  • 2 light cruisers: Bartolomeo Colleoni (sunk), Giovanni dalle Bande Nere

Royal Navy

• capitain Collins
  • 1 light cruiser: HMAS Sydney (slightly damaged)
  • 5 destroyers: Hasty, Havock (damaged) Hero, Hyperion, Ilex