Battle of Calabria

Battle of Calabria
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
Italian battleship Giulio Cesare, 9 July 1940
Date 9 July 1940 (1940-07-09) Location Off Calabria, Mediterranean Sea 37°40′N 17°20′E / 37.667°N 17.333°E / 37.667; 17.333 Result Indecisive
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Australia	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Andrew Cunningham	Inigo Campioni
Strength
1 aircraft carrier 3 battleships 5 light cruisers 16 destroyers	2 battleships 6 heavy cruisers 8 light cruisers 16 destroyers
Casualties and losses
1 light cruiser damaged 2 destroyers damaged	1 battleship damaged 1 heavy cruiser damaged 1 destroyer damaged

The Battle of Calabria (9 July 1940) known to the Italian Navy as the Battle of Punta Stilo, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War. Ships of the Regia Marina were opposed by vessels of the Mediterranean Fleet. The battle took place 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) to the east of Punta Stilo, Calabria.

The battle was one of the few in the Mediterranean campaign involving large numbers of ships on both sides. The battle was indecisive and the ships returned to base; it was the first battleship engagement between the Regia Marina and the Mediterranean Fleet.