Battle of the Campobasso Convoy

Battle of the Campobasso Convoy
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
HMS Petard photographed from HMS Formidable, December 1943
Date 3-4 May 1943 Location Off Cape Bon, Mediterranean Sea 36°45′N 10°45′E / 36.750°N 10.750°E / 36.750; 10.750 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Deric Holland-Martin	Saverio Marotta †
Strength
3 destroyers	1 torpedo boat 1 merchantman
Casualties and losses
None	76 men killed (Italian merchant navy) 133 men killed (Italian Navy): Total: 209 103 men rescued 1 torpedo boat sunk 1 merchantman sunk

The Battle of the Campobasso Convoy was a naval engagement between three British Royal Navy destroyers and an Italian Regia Marina torpedo boat which took place off Cape Bon in the Mediterranean sea on the night of 3/4 May 1943. The Italians were escorting the 3,566 gross register ton (GRT) freighter Campobasso to Tunisia.

The ships were illuminated by star shells, east of Kelibia in Cape Bon; Perseo attacked the British ships with torpedoes then turned to the north-west. Campobasso exploded under the British bombardment, which, with more star shells, lit up Perseo it being severely damaged; sinking an hour later. The 93 crew of Campobasso suffered 73 killed and of 133 crew on Perseo, 83 survived.