Battle off Zuwarah

Battle off Zuwarah
Part of the Mediterranean theatre of World War II
HMS Javelin (1941)
Date 19/20 January 1943 Location Off Zuwarah, Mediterranean Sea 32°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.