Submitted by @Salentine

9 July 1940 - On this in history The Battle of Calabria took place it was one of the first large battles between the Italian Royal Navy (16 DD's, 6 CA's, 8 CL's and 2 BB's including the Guilio Cesare) and the British Royal Navy (16 DD's, 5 CA's, 1 CV and 3 BB's including the Warspite) both forces were escorting vital convoys, the Italians to north Africa and the British to Malta, both sides exchanged fire and retreated. 

The Italians suffered damage to 1 battleship, 1 heavy cruiser and 1 destroyer and the British suffered damage to 1 light cruiser and 2 destroyers.

The Warspite hit the Giulio Cesare at well over 24,000 metres (26,000 yd), which at the time was one of the longest-range naval artillery hits in history.

Event details