Four British destroyers hunting submarines in the southern Agean sighted two Italian cruisers about ten miles to the west. The four destroyers outranged and out-gunned 'fled' northwards. The cruiser HMAS Sydney with a destroyer were about 45 miles north assigned to attack Italian shipping in the Agean. Just after 0830 hrs the cruisers came within range of one another. Sydney started firing and the destroyers turned to attack. The Italian cruisers turned and ran. Accurate gunfire from Sydney eventually stopped the Bartolomeo Colleoni but the other Italian cruiser's superior speed, although hit, drew away from the Australian & British pursuers.

Southern end of the Agean Sea north of the island of Crete. (Mediterranean Sea)