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The [[Mediterranean Sea]] had been a battleground since June 1940, when [[Italy]] entered the war on the side of [[Germany]].  In November of that year, the Royal Navy had achieved a decisive victory over Italy when British planes attacked the Italian fleet at [[Taranto]], sinking or damaging three battleships.  In March, following an unsuccessful Italian invasion of [[Greece]], the Greek government allowed British troops to be stationed there.  Winston Churchill hoped eventually to create a Balkan front to threaten the Axis on its southern flank.<ref>The Second World War: The Mediterranean 1940-1945, by Paul Collier, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>

The [[Mediterranean Sea]] had been a battleground since June 1940, when [[Italy]] entered the war on the side of [[Germany]].  In November of that year, the Royal Navy had achieved a decisive victory over Italy when British planes attacked the Italian fleet at [[Taranto]], sinking or damaging three battleships.  In March, following an unsuccessful Italian invasion of [[Greece]], the Greek government allowed British troops to be stationed there.  Winston Churchill hoped eventually to create a Balkan front to threaten the Axis on its southern flank.<ref>The Second World War: The Mediterranean 1940-1945, by Paul Collier, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>

In March 1941, the Italian fleet moved into waters south of [[Crete]] to intercept Greece-bound convoys.  The ships were discovered by British reconnaissance aircraft, and ships were sent from Crete and [[Alexandria]] to engage them on March 28.  The Italian force, commanded by Admiral Angelo Iachino, consisted of the [[battleship]] ''Vittorio Veneto'', eight [[cruisers]], and 14 destroyers.  The British fleet, under Admiral A.B. Cunningham, included the [[aircraft carrier]] HMS ''Formidable''; the battleships ''Warspite'' (flagship), ''Valiant'', and ''Malaya''; four cruisers; and 13 destroyers.<ref> A History of War at Sea, by Helmut Pemsel, Naval Institute Press, 1975</ref>

In March 1941, the Italian fleet moved into waters south of [[Crete]] to intercept Greece-bound convoys.  The ships were discovered by British reconnaissance aircraft, and ships were sent from Crete and [[Alexandria]] to engage them on March 28.  The Italian force, commanded by Admiral Angelo Iachino, consisted of the [[battleship]] ''Vittorio Veneto'', eight [[cruisers]], and 14 destroyers.  The British fleet, under Admiral A.B. Cunningham, included the [[aircraft carrier]] HMS ''Formidable''; the battleships ''Warspite'' (flagship), ''Valiant'', and ''Malaya''; four cruisers; and 13 destroyers.<ref>A History of War at Sea, by Helmut Pemsel, Naval Institute Press, 1975</ref>

Admiral Iachino hoped to trap the British between his battleship and his cruisers, but when aircraft from the ''Formidable'' attacked, he ordered his ships to retreat, as he had no air cover.  The Italian ships were faster than the British ships, so Cunningham called for air strikes by [[RAF]] bombers based on Crete, hoping to slow his opponents down.  The land-based planes did no damage, but a second carrier strike scored a torpedo hit on the Italian battleship.  A last strike from the ''Formidable'', at dusk, damaged the heavy cruiser ''Pola'', leaving her dead in the water.

Admiral Iachino hoped to trap the British between his battleship and his cruisers, but when aircraft from the ''Formidable'' attacked, he ordered his ships to retreat, as he had no air cover.  The Italian ships were faster than the British ships, so Cunningham called for air strikes by [[RAF]] bombers based on Crete, hoping to slow his opponents down.  The land-based planes did no damage, but a second carrier strike scored a torpedo hit on the Italian battleship.  A last strike from the ''Formidable'', at dusk, damaged the heavy cruiser ''Pola'', leaving her dead in the water.