Operation Scylla

Operation Scylla
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
Italian light cruiser Scipione Africano at Taranto
Date 17/18 July 1943 Location Strait of Messina 38°3′20.20″N 15°35′28.35″E / 38.0556111°N 15.5912083°E / 38.0556111; 15.5912083 Result Italian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Dennis Jermain	Ernesto Pellegrini
Strength
4 Motor Torpedo Boats	1 light cruiser
Casualties and losses
12 killed 1 MTB sunk 2 MTBs damaged	2 wounded 1 light cruiser minor damage

Operation Scylla (Italian: Operazione Scilla) was the transit of Scipione Africano, a Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) Capitani Romani-class cruiser, on the night of 17/18 July 1943, during the Second World War. The cruiser sailed from La Spezia in the Tyrrhenian Sea to Taranto in the Ionian Sea during the Allied invasion of Sicily.

Scipione Africano fought a night engagement against four British motor torpedo boats (MTBs) during its passage of the Strait of Messina. At least two MTBs launched their torpedoes, whilst the cruiser fired its main and secondary guns while sailing at maximum speed. An MTB was destroyed and one damaged; Scipione Africano received superficial damage after being fired on by mistake by Axis coastal artillery. The action was the only time that an Italian warship made effective use of surface radar during an engagement in the war.