)[3] Force H, under the command of Admiral James Somerville, accompanied the convoy as defence against Italian surface ships.

Force H included cruisers HMS Kenya, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Euryalus and Hermione, and was screened by destroyers HNLMS Isaac Sweers, ORP Garland and ORP Piorun, and HMS Duncan, Farndale, Foresight, Forester, Fury, Heythrop, Laforey, Lance, Legion, Lightning, Lively, Oribi, Cossack, Gurkha and Zulu.

Squalo, Bandiera and Delfino patrolled Southwest of Sardinia and Narvalo was off the African shore of the Sicilian narrows.

A CANT Z.506 seaplane observing Force H at 09:32 on 26 September reported a battleship with an aircraft carrier incorrectly identified as HMS Furious.

The port column was led by the cruiser Kenya, followed by Ajax, Clan MacDonald, Imperial Star, Rowallan Castle and City of Calcutta.

The starboard column was led by the cruiser Edinburgh followed by Clan Ferguson, MV Dunedin Star, HMS Breconshire and City of Lincoln.

Nelson took position behind the starboard wing of the screen followed by Ark Royal in formation with the anti-aircraft cruisers Euryalus and Hermione.

The Italian plane had released the torpedo at a range of only 450 yd (410 m) and endured concentrated anti-aircraft fire from Prince of Wales before being shot down by one of the Fulmars.

At 14:30 the Italian fleet was about 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) from the convoy, but "...decided to return home around 14:30 on 27 September when..." it "... learned that the British had two battleships, a carrier and six cruisers at sea.

Cr.42 fighters arrived at 15:30 to provide air cover but the squadron leader of the first flight was shot down by friendly fire from an Italian destroyer.

At 14:46 Prince of Wales, Rodney, Sheffield, Edinburgh, and six destroyers steamed toward the Italian fleet but were recalled at 17:00 before making contact and rejoined the convoy at 18:30.

[9] Nelson, Rodney, Prince of Wales and Ark Royal turned west to return to Gibraltar, escorted by Duncan, Fury, Gurkha, Lance, Legion, Lively.

Italian Motoscafo armato silurante (MAS torpedo boats) deployed through the Strait of Messina, but failed to find the convoy.

It was the second time Somerville had received that honour, and it occasioned a memorable congratulatory message from Andrew Cunningham "Fancy, twice a knight at your age".