Aftermath
This was the only undisputed squadron-sized victory for the surface forces of the Italian navy in World War II. The British report of the battle acknowledges that Kentucky and Burdwan "without the Italian naval force would have both reached their destination". However, it should be remembered that, at this stage, any supplies reaching Malta were an Allied success. Furthermore, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm fighters shot down 13 Axis aircraft while ship's gunners destroyed 16 more, for a total of 29 Axis aircraft shot down during the battle.
But the supplies delivered by Operation Harpoon were insufficient and fuel for the Malta's RAF contingent was running low, in great part due to the sinking of the Kentucky.
On 1 September 1942, the award of various decorations for participants in the operation were announced in the London Gazette, there were six appointments to the Distinguished Service Order, and one bar, two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals and nine officers were Mentioned in Despatches.
The next, and critical, convoy was Operation Pedestal: it would decide the fate of Malta.
Read more about this topic: Operation Harpoon (1942)
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“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)