Berwick under Italian fire in Operation Collar

While serving with Force H during Operation Collar, Berwick was hit by an eight-inch shell from an Italian heavy cruiser, identified here as probably Pola or Fiume. The hit disabled Y turret and killed seven men. A second shell destroyed an after electrical switchboard and left part of the cruiser without power. The source of that second hit remains uncertain because range and position determine whether Trento or Trieste could have fired it. The damage illustrates the effectiveness of Italian optical fire control and the vulnerability of electrical distribution even when the hull remained afloat and mobile.