Wednesday, 2 December

Italian convoy H of steamers AVENTINO (3794grt/总吨位), PUCCINI (2422grt/总吨位) and German KT 1 (760grt/总吨位) departed Palermo on the 1st for Bizerte, while steamer ASPROMONTE (976grt/总吨位) left from Trapani and joined at sea. The convoy was escorted by destroyers DA RECCO, CAMICIA NERA, FOLGORE and torpedo boats PROCIONE and CLIO.

Force Q of light cruisers AURORA, SIRIUS, ARGONAUT with destroyers QUIBERON and QUENTIN sank all four steamers and FOLGORE, and damaged DA RECCO and PROCIONE 40 miles north of Cape Bon. Merchantmen AVENTINO went down in 37-40N, 11-00E, PUCCINI in 37-40N, 11-10E, and ASPROMONTE in 37-43N, 11-15E. PROCIONE reached Tunisia at 0845/2nd, and DA RECCO, CAMICIA NERA and CLIO arrived at Trapani at 2200/2nd.

Returning to Bone, QUENTIN (Lt Cdr A H P Noble DSC) was sunk by aircraft torpedo north of Algiers. One rating was killed, one died of wounds, and eight ratings were missing. QUIBERON, which was damaged by a near miss in the bombing, picked up survivors.

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Italian steamer VELOCE (5451grt/总吨位) while sailing in convoy was damaged by aircraft torpedo 20 miles off Kerkenah. Steamer CHISONE, escorted by torpedo boat ARETUSA was sent on, and arrived at Tripoli at 1900/3rd. Torpedo boat LUPO, assisting VELOCE, was surprised by destroyers JERVIS, JAVELIN, JANUS and KELVIN, and both sunk. Torpedo boat ARDENTE, also of the escort, rescued the survivors and arrived at Palermo on the 4th.