HMAS Stuart in the Battle of Matapan, 1941

During the movement of some 58,000 troops from North Africa to Greece, an Italian fleet ventured to strike at the convoy route. Pre-warned, three British and an Australian cruiser (HMAS Perth) of the Mediterranean Fleet intercepted leading cruisers of the enemy force. An exchange of fire resulted in the Italian ship making off, shadowed by the British force while another three battleships and an aircraft carrier headed out to sea. That night the combined British battle fleet attacked two Italian cruisers and disabled them with a few salvos. Three Italian destroyers then attacked, these were engaged by the battleships and driven off by the ever-present destroyer divisions, on this occasion under Captain H.M.L Waller, in HMAS Stuart. The destroyers then went on to sink two of the enemy destroyers and finish off three previously-crippled cruisers. By dawn the sea was clear of Italian ships, and the air sweep from the carrier HMS Formidable found no trace of the survivors. The British fleet returned to base at Alexandria under almost constant air attack, but intact. Because it occurred off Cape Matapan in Southern Greece, the fight became known as the Battle of Matapan.