A second group sailed 35 miles (56 km) to the east consisting of six heavy cruisers and another four destroyers.

The first, comprising four destroyers and six torpedo boats, sailed directly protecting the cargo ships. The convoy's escort, commanded by Admiral Inigo Campioni, consisted of three groups. The transports carried 2,190 troops, 72 M11 tanks, 232 other vehicles, 10,445 tons of supplies and 5,720 tons of fuel. That evening two torpedo-boats from Catania and another freighter met them off Messina and the next day their escort force joined the convoy from Taranto after being informed that the Allies had recently left port in Alexandria. On 6 July a convoy of four merchant ships left Naples on their way to Benghazi, while attempting to fool the Allies into thinking they were making for Tripoli. When Italy entered the Second World War, its forces in Libya were ill-equipped for offensive operations, and the Italian fleet was forced to start large supply convoys in order to bring them up to fighting condition. Both sides claimed victory, but in fact the battle was a draw and everyone returned to their bases safely.

It was one of the few pitched battles of the Mediterranean campaign during the Second World War involving large numbers of ships on both sides. The battle occurred 30 miles to the east of Punta Stilo, Calabria, on 9 July 1940. Ships of the Italian Regia Marina were opposed by vessels of the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy. The Battle of Calabria, known to the Italian Navy as the Battle of Punta Stilo, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War. ² - Involved an Axis convoy or delivery mission ¹ - Involved an Allied convoy or delivery mission

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