Despite the defeat in North Africa, Italian coastal and island traffic retained its importance, against which, the Royal Navy conducted offensive operations, assisted by signals intelligence derived from code breaking.

Not long after their departure, Pugsley, who was not aware of Ultra, the British code-breaking effort, received a signal that a southbound convoy was moving off the foot of Italy (Calabria).

After checking the distance, Pugsley decided that there was just enough time to attack the convoy and get close enough to Malta by dawn to benefit from air cover.

The escort vessel, Castore (Lieutenant-Commander Marino Fasan), which had been ahead of the merchantmen, turned back to protect the ships, its first shells passing over the two destroyers.

The naval bombardments and the dropping of 6,200 long tons (6,300 t) of bombs by the Allied air forces led to the landing by troops of the 1st Division being unopposed.