Battle of Crete

20 May – 1 June 1941, Around Crete, Greece

German victory; three British cruisers and six destroyers sunk

When German paratroops landed on Crete, the Mediterranean Fleet's task was to stop any invasion by sea, and later to take off the army. On the nights of 21 and 22 May British cruisers and destroyers broke up two convoys of caiques carrying German troops; the Italian torpedo boat Lupo fought off a whole cruiser force to cover the first. But by day the ships were within easy range of German dive bombers flying from Greece. Juno was sunk on the 21st; on the 22nd Greyhound, Gloucester and Fiji, and Warspite and Valiant were hit. Kelly and Kashmir were sunk the next morning. Formidable was badly damaged on the 26th trying to strike back at the airfields. On 28 May the army was ordered to leave; the navy took off about 16,500 men over four nights, losing Imperial, Hereward and Calcutta, while Orion and Dido were hit with troops crowded on their decks. Cunningham refused to stop the evacuation, saying it took three years to build a ship but three hundred to build a tradition. About 2,000 sailors were killed, and the fleet was left with two battleships and three cruisers fit for sea.