Appendix 3: Main Strength of Mediterranean Fleet and Force H between November 1941 and October 1942
(Because of essential maintenance not all the ships in this list would be available continuously for immediate service, but no ship out of action at the times shown for more than a few days has been included)
The Mediterranean Fleet
Does not include ships lent from Eastern Fleet
Early November 1941 | End of 1941 | Mid-March 1942 immediately before 2nd Battle of Sirte | Early September 1942 | |
Battleships |
Queen Elizabeth, Barham, Valiant |
None | None | None |
Aircraft Carriers | None | None | None | None |
Cruisers, 6-inch |
Ajax, Neptune, Hobart (RAN), Aurora, Penelope |
Ajax |
Penelope |
Orion, Arethusa |
Cruisers, 5.25-inch |
Naiad, Galatea |
Naiad, Dido, Euryalus |
Cleopatra, Dido, Euryalus |
Cleopatra, Dido, Euryalus |
AA Cruisers | None |
Carlisle |
Carlisle |
Coventry |
Destroyers | 21 | 26 | 19 | 15 |
Submarines (including those based on Gibraltar) | 30 | 28 | 25 | 27 |
Force H
The name lapsed in April and was not revived until October 1942
Battleships |
Malaya |
Malaya |
Malaya |
Malaya |
Aircraft Carriers: |
Ark Royal |
Argus |
Eagle, Argus |
None |
Cruisers |
Hermione |
Hermione |
Hermione |
Charybdis |
Destroyers | 6 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
Italian Fleet and German Submarines in the Mediterranean
(Ships seriously damaged and under repair are not included)
Early November 194 t | End of 1941 | Mid-March 1942 immediately before 2nd Battle of Sirte | Early September 1942 | |
Battleships |
Littorio, Vittorio Veneto, Doria, Cesare, Duilio |
Littorio, Doria, Cesare, Duilio |
Littorio, Duilio, Cesare |
Littorio, Vittorio Veneto, Roma, Duilio, Cesare, Doria |
Cruisers, 8-inch |
Trieste, Trento, Gorizia |
Trento, Gorizia |
Trento, Gorizia |
Gorizia, Trieste |
Cruisers, 6-inch: |
Di Giussano, Cadorna, Bande Nere, Da Barbiano, Duca D’Aosta, Montecuccoli, Attendolo, Duca degli Abruzzi, Garibaldi |
Cadorna, Bande Nere, Duca D’Aosta, Montecuccoli, Attendolo, Garibaldi |
Eugenio di Savoia, Duca D’Aosta, Montecuccoli, Attendolo |
Eugenio di Sayoia, Duca D’Aosta, Montecuccoli, Garibaldi, Duca degli Abruzzi, Cadorna |
Cruisers, 5.25-inch | None | None | None | Regolo |
Fleet Destroyers | 32 | 25 | 26 | 28 |
Submarines Italian* | 44 | 50 | 33 | 35 |
Submarines German | 14 | 21 | 20 | 16 |
* These figures are for submarines operating in the Mediterranean; in addition there were a number operating in the Atlantic.