19 July 1940
In July 1940, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (II) incapacitated the Italian light cruiser the Bartolomeo Colleoni during the Battle of Cape Spada. Two Royal Navy destroyers, the HMS Hyperion and HMS Ilex, eventually destroyed the Italian cruiser.
Sydney was attached to the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet in May 1940, joining the Royal Navy’s Seventh Cruiser Squadron. By the time of the engagement with Bartolomeo Colleoni, Sydney had already distinguished itself in battle by destroying the Italian destroyer Espero and through its participation in the Battle of Calabria.
In July, Sydney sailed for the Gulf of Athens, where it would support the destroyer flotilla:
- HMS Hyperion
- HMS Hero
- HMS Hasty
- HMS Ilex.
The flotilla’s aim was to intercept Italian shipping in the Dodecanese, and to sweep from west to east along the island of Crete. Sydney, under the command of Captain JA Collins RAN, drove westward into the Aegean Sea to cover the flotilla’s flank.
Two Italian cruisers attacked the flotilla and caused it to withdraw from its planned course:
- the Giovanni delle Bande Nere
- the Bartolomeo Colleoni
Though the British flotilla commander had figured that Sydney was too far away to assist, Captain Collins had put his ship, along with the accompanying HMS Havock, hundreds of miles closer than either side had realised.
Sydney fired upon the Italian cruisers at a range of around 10 miles, hitting both. Bartolomeo Colleoni was struck in the boiler, causing it to stop completely. Hyperion and Ilex were sent in to finish it off. Sydney chased after Giovanni Delle Bande Nere but was soon fired on by Italian aircraft and forced to retreat.
Sydney sustained no serious casualties during the battle, though its forward funnel was damaged. It sailed to Alexandria, in what was a proud moment for Australia and for Australians serving so far from home.
The battle was a reminder of the part that Australia would play in the war. Final victory against the Axis powers could only be achieved through the cooperation of allies. Though the British Mediterranean Fleet was powerful, it was augmented by the presence of Australian warships, which played a vital part in the Allied defence of North Africa.
The protection of supply lines to armies in Africa was key to holding Egypt and the Suez Canal. This in turn enabled the most efficient transportation of supplies to and from Australia. Maintaining the safety of these passages was, and continues to be, key to Australian defence.