their lives in the disaster. The Malta Strike Force, which had been such an active threat to Axis shipping to Libya during most of 1941, was much reduced in its effectiveness and was later forced to withdraw to Gibraltar. Attack on Alexandria While steaming back to Alexandria along with Vian's force, destroyer reported an apparently successful depth-charge attack on an unidentified submarine. The only axis submarine off Alexandria was the Italian , which was carrying a group of six Italian frogmen commandos, including Luigi Durand De La Penne, equipped with manned torpedoes. Shortly after Vian's force arrived in Alexandria, on the night of 18 December, the Italians penetrated the harbour and attacked the fleet. Jervis was damaged, a large Norwegian tanker disabled and the battleships and were severely damaged. This was a strategic change of fortune against the Allies whose effects were felt in the Mediterranean for several months. Results Both sides achieved their strategic objectives; the British got supplies through to Malta and the Axis got their ships through to Tripoli and Benghazi, although Benghazi fell to the Eighth Army five days later, on 24 December. Order of battle Forces present 17 December 1941 Italy Admiral Angelo Iachino (on Littorio) Close covering force – Vice Admiral Raffaele de Courten (on Duca d'Aosta): One battleship: ; Three light cruisers (7a Divisione Incrociatori): , , ; Three destroyers: , , and . Distant covering force – Vice Admiral Angelo Parona (on Gorizia): Three battleships: , , and ; Two heavy cruisers: , and ; 10 destroyers: Vincenzo Gioberti, Alfredo Oriani (9a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); (10a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); , (12a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); , , , (13a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); (16a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere). Close escort: Six destroyers: (7a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); , (14a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); Lanzerotto Malocello, (15a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); (16a Squadriglia Cacciatorpediniere); One torpedo boat: . M42 convoy: Three motorships: Monginevro, Napoli, Vettor Pisani; One freighter: Ankara (German). Allies Convoy Escort – Rear-Admiral Philip Vian (on Naiad) Three light cruisers: , , ; Eight destroyers : , , , (damaged), (damaged), , and (14th Destroyer Flotilla). Convoy One fast merchantman: Breconshire Force K Two light cruisers: , Two destroyers , Force B One cruiser: Two destroyers: , 4th Destroyer Flotilla Four destroyers : , , , HNLMS Isaac Sweers (4th Destroyer Flotilla). See also Second Battle of Sirte Notes References Bartimeus: East of Malta, West of Suez, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1944. Bragadin, Marc'Antonio: