| Accession Number | P01349.010 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | 28 June 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
THE ITALIAN TURBINE CLASS DESTROYER ESPERO MAKING SMOKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE BRITISH CRUISERS ...
Description
THE ITALIAN TURBINE CLASS DESTROYER ESPERO MAKING SMOKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE BRITISH CRUISERS OF THE 7TH CRUISER SQUADRON WHEN THE ITALIAN DESTROYERS ESPERO, ZEFFIRO AND OSTRO WERE INTERCEPTED NORTH OF CRETE. THE ZEFFIRO AND OSTRO ESCAPED BUT THE ESPERO WAS HIT AND DISABLED. HMAS SYDNEY WAS DETACHED TO SINK THE ESPERO AND PICK UP SURVIVORS. AS THE SYDNEY APPROACHED THE ESPERO OPENED FIRE, SYDNEY'S RETURN FIRE SILENCED THE ESPERO'S GUNS AND SHE SANK AT ABOUT 2040 HOURS. THE SYDNEY RESCUED AS MANY SURVIVORS AS SHE COULD. THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN FROM HMAS SYDNEY.