Tribals linked Cunningham's forces at Cape Matapan

At Cape Matapan, two Tribal destroyers operated between Admiral Cunningham's forward cruisers and the main fleet during the night pursuit of the Italian force. They preserved contact as the formations separated and kept information moving between them. The assignment placed the destroyers alone in an exposed gap, where they still had to remain in touch with both groups. This liaison duty was one of the cruiser functions built into the class.