Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Cape Passero

Battle of Cape Passero was a naval engagement fought on 12 October 1940 at Mediterranean Sea. It was part of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theater of World War II, which ran from 1940 to 1945. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: Night action: 1 light cruiser; Day action: 1 heavy cruiser; 2 light cruisers against 4 destroyers; 3 torpedo boats.

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HMS Ajax (22), british cruiser during WWII
HMS Ajax (22), british cruiser during WWII. http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/ (Image uploaded on the english wikipedia Image:HMS Ajax.jpg), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought12 October 1940
WhereMediterranean Sea36.250N, 15.750E
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsUnited KingdomagainstFascist Italy (1922-1943)
Part ofMediterranean and Middle East Theater of World War II1940 to 1945

Where it sits in the Mediterranean and Middle East Theater of World War II

Battle of the Espero Convoy, 1940Battle of Cape Spada, 1940Battle of Cape Passero, 1940Battle of Sidi Barrani, 1940Siege of Giarabub, 1940Battle of Kufra, 1941Operation Sonnenblume, 1941Battle of Cape Matapan, 1941Siege of Tobruk, 1941Battle of the Tarigo Convoy, 1941Battle of the Duisburg Convoy, 1941Battle of Cape Bon, 1941First Battle of Sirte, 1941Raid on Alexandria, 1941Second Battle of Sirte, 1942Battle of Gazala, 1942Battle of Bir Hakeim, 1942Axis capture of Tobruk, 1942Battle of Mersa Matruh, 1942Battle of Alam el Halfa, 1942Battle of Skerki Bank, 1942Battle of the Gulf of Gabes, 1943Battle of the Cigno Convoy, 1943Battle of Enfidaville, 1943Battle of the Campobasso Convoy, 1943Battle of Rhodes, 1943Battle of Leros, 1943Battle of Kos, 1943Action of 1 November 1944, 1944Battle of Ist, 1944Raid on Santorini, 1944Battle of Port Cros, 1944Battle of La Ciotat, 1944Battle of the Ligurian Sea, 194519401945Battle of Cape Passero, 1940
34 placed engagements of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theater of World War II in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date12 October 1940
PlaceMediterranean Sea
36.250N, 15.750E
KindNaval engagement, interwar and Second World War
StrengthNight action: 1 light cruiser; Day action: 1 heavy cruiser; 2 light cruisers4 destroyers; 3 torpedo boats
Casualties and losses13 killed; 22 wounded; 1 light cruiser damaged296 killed; 1 destroyer sunk; 2 torpedo boats sunk; 1 destroyer damaged
Commanders
  • Desmond McCarthy
  • Carlo Margottini
  • Alberto Banfi
Battle of Cape PasseroBattle of Cape PasseroBattle of Cape PassaroAction of 26 June 1625Battle of HimeraBattle of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseBattle of Cape PassaroAction of 26 June 1625Battle of HimeraBattle of SyracuseValletta100 km36.250N, 15.750E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1940

Battle of Cape Passero is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2122172, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Action off Cape Passero, revision 1385194956, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.