Second Battle of Sirte. A British convoy and escort are attacked by the Italian fleet, but manage to slip away, with two destroyers heavily damaged; the delay, however, resulted in all four of its cargo ships sunk during subsequent Axis air strikes the following morning. 15 June, Operation Harpoon. A British convoy resupplying Malta was intercepted by Italian cruisers and engaged by Axis aircraft; three merchantmen, a large tanker and the destroyer were sunk by air attacks combined with naval gunfire. The Polish destroyer sank after hitting a mine while approaching Valletta. Twenty-nine Axis aircraft were shot down during the battle. Only two cargo ships from a convoy of six reached Malta, one of them damaged. 15 June, Operation Vigorous. British convoy from Alexandria suffers heavy air strikes, it is eventually driven back by the Italian fleet. 15 August, Operation Pedestal. British convoy resupplying Malta is attacked; HMS Manchester and nine merchantmen are sunk by Axis E-boats, aircraft and submarines; but vital supplies, including oil, are delivered November, Operation Stone Age. British convoy reaches Malta undisturbed. 2 December, the Battle of Skerki Bank. Italian convoy is attacked and destroyed. 11 December, the Raid on Algiers. Italian manned torpedoes attack Allied shipping, two steamships are sunk. 1943 16 April, the Battle of the Cigno Convoy. A failed British attack at night by two destroyers on an Italian transport. One of the Italian escorts, the was sunk. The British destroyer was disabled during the battle and was later scuttled when it became clear it would not be able to reach base. The 5000 ton transport ship Belluno and torpedo boat Tifone, the latter loaded with aviation spirit, reached destination safely. 3–4 May, the Battle of the Campobasso Convoy. A successful British attack by three destroyers on the Italian transport Campobasso (taking supplies to Axis forces in Tunisia) with the escorting (800-ton displacement) torpedo boat . Both Perseo and Campobasso were sunk with no loss to the British. 2 June, the Battle of the Messina convoy. The British destroyer and the Greek carried out a night sweep along the Gulf of Squillace, where they found a small two-ship convoy escorted by the . Supported by a Wellington bomber which dropped flares on the target, the Allied units engaged the Italian steamers Vragnizza and Postumia. The destroyers lost track of the convoy after the intervention of the escort, which laid smoke and returned fire.