Allied Planning

The British Chief of Staff, Gen Sir John Dill, is in Belgrade for talks with the Yugoslav authorities, but there is little he can offer them and no agreements of any importance are reached.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Olivine (929t) is lost to unknown causes in the Irish Sea or Bristol Channel.
• The British steamer Staffordshire (10,683t) is damaged by German bombing northwest of Scotland with the loss of 28 on board. She is beached at Loch Ewe on the 29th and will sail for the Tyne 23 April.

Diplomatic Relations

Field Marshal Sir John Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, flies to Belgrade to learn the intentions of Gen Dusan Simovic's new government. Despite their desperate situation, it seems that the Yugoslav government will send an accredited representative for talks with the Allies about their project for a 'Balkan Alliance', from the Aegean to the Danube.

On March 28, 1941, an Italian squadron, hoping to intercept a convoy, instead encountered the British battle fleet off Cape Matapan. The Italians were slowed down by an air attack from the British aircraft carrier Formidable, and then badly mauled in a night battle. This unusual photograph, taken from a British Swordfish, shows an Albacore torpedo-bomber climbing just after releasing its torpedo at the Itlaian heavy cruiser Pola.

Battle of Cape Matapan

Italian East Africa

The Italians abandon Diredawa, Ethiopia (northwest of Harar) and retreat towards Addis Ababa.

Mediterranean

The Battle of Cape Matapan begins. There is a long-range engagement between Pridham-Wippell's force and some of the Italian cruisers. The Italians suspect that a large British force is present and begin to retire. In the afternoon Swordfish aircraft from the Formidable attack the Italian ships, hitting the battleship Vittorio Veneto and the cruiser Pola. The Vittorio Veneto is able to proceed at reduced speed but the Pola is stopped.

The 15 inch guns of HMS Valiant firing a broadside. In the background HMS Barham and HMS Warspite. These three battleships wiped out the three Italian cruisers in the Battle of Cape Matapan

HMS Valiant in Action

In the evening Iachino sends the cruisers Zara and Fiume and 4 destroyers back to help the Pola. The British ships are pressing on in pursuit hoping to come up with the damaged ship when, during the night, they find the 3 Italian cruisers and their escorts on their radar. The British approach to close range, without being sighted in return, and in a brief gun battle the cruisers and 2 of the destroyers are shot to pieces and sunk before they have the chance to fire a shot. More than 2400 Italians are lost aboard the 5 ships. The only British loss is a Swordfish torpedo bomber.

The battle of Cape Matapan, 28th March 1941, just after the battlefleet opened fire at 10.28 p.m. From left to right: the burning Zara, and Fiume, the Barham, the Valiant, the Greyhound, and the flagship Warspite. (From the painting by Rowland Langmaid)

Beginning of the Battle

The British submarine Utmost sinks the German steamer Heraklea (1927t), part of a convoy heading for Tripoli, off Kerkenah.