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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

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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

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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.