Admiral Toscano ordered full speed and a turn to 337 degrees, almost reversing the Italian course. The order failed to reach the other cruiser and escort promptly, disrupting the formation. The Italian crews watched seaward while Sikh, Maori, Legion and Isaac Sweers approached from the dark inshore side with radar guidance. The reversal increased the closing rate. Sikh and Legion attacked Da Barbiano, while Maori and Isaac Sweers concentrated on Di Giussano; torpedo launches took place at roughly a kilometre or less. Clearing the fuel cargo to free the Italian guns took time the cruisers no longer had, and both were disabled within about five minutes. Da Barbiano capsized with more than five hundred men lost, while Di Giussano burned, broke apart and sank with hundreds more casualties.
Chapter · 8:18:21-8:22:34
Destroyers strike at knife-fighting range off Cape Bon
A confused Italian reversal lets four destroyers close from the dark inshore side and launch torpedoes from less than a kilometer.