Operation Scylla

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Operation Scylla was a nighttime naval action in the Strait of Messina on 17–18 July 1943, during the Allied invasion of Sicily. The Italian cruiser Scipione Africano, commanded by Ernesto Pellegrini, sailed from La Spezia to Taranto to reinforce the Ionian Sea. Equipped with the Gufo surface radar, Scipione detected four British motor torpedo boats (MTBs) ahead and closed in.

The four MTBs—260, 313, 315, and 316 of the 10th MTB Flotilla under Lt. Denis Jermain—were lying in wait for Axis ships. Scipione opened fire at close range and, in about three minutes, the engagement left MTB 316 exploded and sunk, MTB 313 left sinking, MTB 260 damaged, and MTB 315 damaged while acting as a decoy. Scipione avoided being torpedoed after the decoy tactic and continued toward Taranto. The Italian cruiser sustained only light splinter damage from coastal guns, with two sailors wounded.

Scipione reached Taranto on 18 July. The action is noted as the only time an Italian warship used surface radar effectively in combat during the war.