a British counterpart during this engagement, damaging her after turrets. Other reports state that Cleopatras radar and radio installations were disabled. On 23 March, Bande Nere was damaged in storms and, needing repairs, was sent to La Spezia on 1 April 1942. While en route, she was hit by two torpedoes from the submarine HMS Urge, broke in two and sank with the loss of 381 men. During the war, Bande Nere participated in 15 missions: four interceptions, eight convoy escorts, and three mine layings, for an overall total of 35,000 miles. 1940 7 July: Battle of Calabria 19 July: Battle of Cape Spada 1941 8 May: attack against Tiger convoy 1942 21 February: operation K 7 (convoy escort to Libya) 22 March: Second Battle of Sirte On the morning of 1 April 1942, Bande Nere left Messina for La Spezia, escorted by the destroyer and the torpedo boat . Eleven miles from Stromboli, at 0900, the group was intercepted by the British submarine ; a torpedo broke the Bande Nere into two sections, and she sank quickly with the loss of 381 of the 772 men aboard. Discovery On 9 March 2019 it was reported that an Italian Navy minesweeper had discovered the wreck of Bande Nere. From photos shown, at least part of the cruiser lies on its port side in 1,400 meters of water. Citations References External links Italian light cruisers Giovanni delle Bande Nere Marina Militare website Giussano-class cruisers Ships built in Castellammare di Stabia 1930 ships World War II cruisers of Italy Ships sunk by British submarines World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Maritime incidents in April 1942