Operation MB8

Operation MB.8
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
20 mm Oerlikon cannon anti aircraft gunners on board a merchant ship on a Malta bound convoy
Date 4–11 November 1940 Location Western part of the Mediterranean Sea 35°N 18°E / 35°N 18°E / 35; 18 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Andrew Cunningham Lumley Lyster	Inigo Campioni
Units involved
Mediterranean Fleet Force H	Regia Marina Regia Aeronautica
Strength
2 aircraft carriers 5 battleships 10 cruisers 30 destroyers	various air & naval forces

Operation MB8 was a British Royal Navy operation in the Mediterranean Sea from 4 to 11 November 1940. It was made up of six forces comprising two aircraft carriers, five battleships, 10 cruisers and 30 destroyers, including much of Force H from Gibraltar, protecting four supply convoys. It consisted of Operation Coat, Operation Crack, Convoy MW 3, Convoy ME 3, Convoy AN 6 and the main element Operation Judgement (the Battle of Taranto).^[1]