Operation Scylla

Operation Scylla
	Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
	; Italian light cruiser Scipione Africano at Taranto
Date	17/18 July 1943
Location	Strait of Messina38°3′20.20″N 15°35′28.35″E
Result	Italian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Dennis Jermain	Ernesto Pellegrini
Strength
4 Motor Torpedo Boats	1 light cruiser
Casualties and losses
12 killed ; 1 MTB sunk ; 2 MTBs damaged	2 wounded ; 1 light cruiser superficially damaged

Operation Scylla (Italian: Operazione Scilla) was the transit of the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) Capitani Romani-class light cruiser Scipione Africano on the night of 17/18 July 1943, during the Second World War. The cruiser sailed from La Spezia in the Tyrrhenian Sea to Taranto in the Ionian Sea during the Allied invasion of Sicily.

Scipione Africano fought a night engagement against four British motor torpedo boats (MTBs) during its passage of the Strait of Messina. At least two MTBs launched their torpedoes, whilst the cruiser fired its main and secondary guns while sailing at maximum speed. An MTB was destroyed and one damaged; Scipione Africano received superficial damage after being fired on by mistake by Axis coastal artillery. The action was the only time that an Italian warship made effective use of surface radar during an engagement in the war.

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