of Lt Cdr Gilbert Hugh Nowell, and were given the task of screening a convoy of British ships bringing supplies from Malta to Alexandria. Phoenix made a contact report on 8 July after sighting the Italian battle fleet. Admiral Andrew Cunningham ordered his ships to cut off the Italian fleet from their base at Taranto, which led to the Battle of Calabria. Phoenix fired torpedoes at two Italian battleships, Giulio Cesare and Conte di Cavour, but missed both targets. While off the coast of Augusta, Sicily, Phoenix fired torpedoes at the Italian torpedo boat , but missed her. counter-attacked and sank Phoenix with depth charges. All hands were lost. See also Submarine warfare List of Allied ships lost to Italian surface vessels in the Mediterranean (1940–43) References External links Royal Navy Submarine Museum Parthian-class submarines Ships built on the River Mersey 1929 ships World War II submarines of the United Kingdom Lost submarines of the United Kingdom World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Maritime incidents in July 1940 Submarines sunk by Italian warships