The destroyer Gallant was disabled by Italian mines and Axis bombers severely damaged the cruiser Southampton and the aircraft carrier Illustrious.

As Italy attacked Egypt from Libya in September 1940 and Greece from Albania in October 1940, the Royal Navy maintained most of their Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria and used Force H at Gibraltar for raids.

[2] Convoy MW 5 consisted of the Freighters Breconshire and Clan Macaulay at Alexandria with cargo bound for Malta.

[3] Force A comprised HMS Warspite, Valiant, Nubian, Mohawk, Dainty, Gallant, Greyhound, Griffin, Jervis and Illustrious to sail from Alexandria, covering convoys MC 4, MW 5 and ME 6 east of the Skerki Banks.

[2] Force F was to cover Convoy MC 4 with HMS Jaguar, Hero, Hasty, Hereward and Bonaventure carrying four hundred soldiers and airmen to Malta.

[2][4] Force H was to protect Convoy MC 4 from Gibraltar to the Skerki Banks with HMS Malaya, Renown, Sheffield, Faulknor, Fury, Forester, Fortune, Firedrake and Ark Royal ferrying six Fairey Swordfish for Malta.

[2] Wellington bombers raided Naples damaging Giulio Cesare with three near misses and causing the only operational Italian battleship, Vittorio Veneto, to retreat from the approaching convoys.

Two SM.79s were shot down by Fairey Fulmars from Ark Royal and a later attack by 15 Fiat CR.42 Falcos carrying 220 lb (100 kg) bombs also failed.

[2] Bonaventure and Hereward sank Vega 6 nmi (11 km; 6.9 mi) south of Pantellaria at 08:30 and Circe escaped undamaged.

Some bombers diving from an altitude of 12,000 feet delayed bomb release until they pulled-out lower than the height of Illustrious' funnel.

The Fulmars claimed eight enemy aircraft during the bombing of Force A as they shuttled to Malta airfields to refuel and re-arm.

A bomb striking a lowered elevator caused extensive hangar damage, with many casualties among aircraft maintenance personnel, nine Swordfish and five Fulmars destroyed.

Seven SM.79s were discouraged by heavy anti-aircraft fire but an attack by six Italian Ju 87s at 16:00 scored another bomb hit and two near misses.

[1] Illustrious was able to complete additional repairs after reaching Alexandria on 25 January but restoration of full combat effectiveness required a trip to United States shipyards.