Raid on Souda Bay

Raid on Souda Bay (1941)
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II
HMS York's hull boarded by the Italian torpedo boat Sirio
Date 26 March 1941 Location Souda Bay, Mediterranean Sea Result Italian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Norway	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Reginald Henry Portal	Arturo Redaelli[1] Ugo Ferruta[1] Luigi Faggioni (POW)
Strength
Fleet in harbour	2 destroyers 6 motor assault boats
Casualties and losses
1 heavy cruiser 1 tanker 2 killed	6 prisoners

The Raid on Souda Bay was an assault by Italian Royal Navy explosive boats on Souda Bay, Crete, during the first hours of 26 March 1941. The motor boats were launched by the destroyers Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella on the approaches to the bay. After negotiating the boom defences, the small craft attacked the Royal Navy heavy cruiser HMS York and the Norwegian tanker Pericles. The Allied vessels were both sunk in shallow waters by the explosive charges and eventually lost.