Battle of Malta

While the British were sending forces to the Far East, the US, convinced by Winston Churchill of the plan to knock Italy out of the war, sent a powerful naval fleet to the Mediterranean. It would be months before the US army could build up a meaningful presence in Europe, and US public opinion was fixed on Japan. However to signal their intent to carry the fight to the axis in Europe, the Tennessee, California and five cruisers were sent to Europe immediately, escorted by destroyers and two submarines.

During 1940 and 1941 the British and Italian fleets had largely avoided each other, concentrating on escorting their respective convoys carrying supplies to their forces in Africa. With the Axis on the offensive on North Africa the British could hardly afford to carry out offensive operations against the Regia Marina, but this restriction did not apply to the forces of America.

Prelude to Malta

The first action between the US navy and the Italians occured on 2nd January 1942, almost as soon as the American task force lead elements had arrived. The Americans aided the British by blockading the seas around Malta, acting as a screen against the Italians sortieing from Taranto.

In the early morning of an extremely windy day, and in poor visibility, the Italian Cruiser Gorizia suddenly stumbled across US forces picketing the area. US destroyers raced to intercept her, having detected the Italian vessel on radar, supported by the cruiser USS Phoenix. An extremely one sided skirmish followed and the Gorizia was soon sunk.

Battle of Malta

Reports soon reached the main body of the Italian fleet in the Mediterranean, that they had lost a cruiser to "light American forces". The Italian admiralty was at first delighted, despite having lost a Zara class vessel. The inexperienced US navy had brashly entered the "Mare Nostrom", and now, with the super dreadnought Vittorio Venetto  at sea, escorted by two WWI battleships, Italy had the chance of scoring a major victory over the new entrants to the war.

The super dreadnought was accompanied by the battleships Andrea Dorea and Guilio Cesare. Both vessels were serviceable WWI battleships, but the Vittorio Venetto was one of the finest battleships in the world. Around the small besieged island of Malta the Italian force closed with the US fleet, unaware of just how large it was and lacking the radar to work it out before it was too late.

Amid rain squalls and heavy seas the two fleets met. The Italian commander was slightly surprised by the size of the enemy fleet, and the presence of two American battleships initially gave him pause for thought. However, his three battleships should have been a match for the Americans, even if they also possessed a fleet of four fast cruisers.

The battle took place in appalling weather, and despite early success with the Vittorio Venetto scoring multiple hits on the California, the Italian shooting was generally ineffective, thanks largely to the bad weather. The Italians particularly struggled to deal with the US destroyers, who quickly closed on the italian fleet, launching their torpedoes at the Guilio Cesare.

The Italian dreadnought had not been sufficiently modified in the inter-war years, and now her age counted against her. The battleship took several hits below the waterline from accurate American torpedo strikes, and within minutes the old dreadnought heeled over and sank.

Suddenly the wind was knocked out of the Italian fleet. With their heavy guns still failing to reduce the effectiveness of the two US battleships and the American cruisers crossing their path in front of them, the Regia Marina force began to turn to port to disengage. However at this moment the fire from Tennessee and California dealt a fatal blow. Lucky shots from the two US vessels slammed into the Vittorio Venetto just as it seemed she must escape. Crippled, the super dreadnought was temporarily brought to a stop and unable to fire, her main systems knocked out. Now she was a sitting duck. Within minutes the American vessels poured shot after shot into her, and it may have been the cruiser Northampton which dealt the killing blow.

The Italian destroyers, who had had their own private duel with American submarines, now launched a torpedo run of their own against the California. They managed three hits, but the US had fitted torpedo belts to their battleships, and despite inflicting some damage, the California only briefly slowed before continuing the pursuit of the Italian fleet.

The "fleet" now consisted of the Andrea Doria who was now performing a series of evasive manoeuvres, desperately attempting to shake off her pursuers. Eventually the Italian vessel escaped behind a rain squall, but not before she had been seriously damaged by another destroyer torpedo run.

The battle ended with spectacular success for the US fleet. Not a single ship had been lost and the damage to the California was superficial. In exchange the Italians had lost - overall - two battleships and a heavy cruiser, with another battleship crippled. This included a Littorio class, one of four, the finest Italian ships they could put to sea.

Order of Battle:

Prelude to Malta:
USA
 - Cruiser Phoenix
 - 3 Destroyers

Italy
 - Cruiser Gorizia SUNK

Battle of Malta:
USA
 - Battleship Tennessee
 - Battleship California
 - Cruiser Northampton
 - Cruiser Chicago
 - Cruiser Pensacola
 - Cruiser Portland
 - 4 Destroyers
 - 2 submarines (Ray, Sawfish)

Italy
 - Battleship Vittorio Venetto SUNK
 - Battleship Andrea Doria CRIPPLED
 - Battleship Guilio Cesare SUNK
 - 4 Destroyers 2 SUNK