York escorted a tanker and Flower-class corvettes to Suda Bay, then protected troop convoys from Egypt to Greece during Operation Lustre. On 26 March 1941, six explosive motorboats launched from the Italian destroyers Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella entered the harbour. Three craft failed, while three reached their targets and two struck York at anchor. HMS Rover supplied electrical power for the cruiser's anti-aircraft guns until the submarine was herself damaged. German bombing on 18 May put York beyond recovery, and the British demolished the wreck during the evacuation of Crete. The loss exposed weaknesses in harbour defence and the danger posed by special-attack craft to a ship left in a vulnerable position.
Notable Point · 36:30-39:26
Explosive motorboats disabled York at Suda Bay
After convoy and troop-escort work, Italian explosive motorboats crippled York at anchor and exposed the danger of vulnerable harbour positions.