Battle of Cape Spartivento
Not selected for the raid on Taranto, Ark Royal saw some action a few weeks later. Late November, the Italians sent two of their battleships to intercept a convoy scheduled to deliver aircraft to Malta.
On 27 November 1940, a little after noon, Ark Royal turned into the wind and launched her Fairey Swordfish. There is no positive information about any achievement reached by her aircraft during that battle that turned into a brawl between battleships. Nevertheless, the Regia Aeronautica knew its priorities and sent some of its aircraft to attack the aircraft carrier. She didn’t sustain any damage during the battle, and fulfilled her mission to escort the convoy to Malta.