As the sun rises on a rare calm day in mid-Atlantic, an Axis convoy of 7 trim merchantmen steams over the horizon. Escorted by 5 old Italian destroyers, it is headed for New York with armoured vehicles and ammunition. Already 3 ships have fallen prey to a Free British wolf pack. Now, a new danger looms at mid-day. Five marauding Free British destroyers steam into view with bones in their teeth, intent on concluding a piece of unfinished business. The Italians square off for action, dashing to intercept the enemy at 42 knots. Forces involved are: Italian (Navigatori Class) DD Antonio Da Noli DD Antonio Pigafetta DD Leone Pancaldo DD Luca Tarigo DD Antonio da Mosto Free British ("N" Class) DD Napier DD Nerissa DD Nepal DD Norseman DD Nestor The two forces close at a combined speed of 78 knots. The vessels of both sides shudder and shake at top speed. The commanders hold fire until 12,000 yards and closer. Then both sides let loose with an earsplitting roar. In quick order, NESTOR, DA NOLI and TARIGO are staggered by heavy shellfire. Soon they are blazing wrecks. In the welter of in-fighting, the British rate of fire begins to smother the Italians. Nevertheless, the battle is fierce. NERI36A, heavily damaged, is forced to scuttle, but not before ripping the PANCALDO with shells. Battered PIGAFETTA cuts loose on NORSEMEN, dying in a hail of return fire from the British. Soon the odds are three-two in favour of the British. DA Mosto and PANCALDO begin a fighting retreat. It is too late. After a prolonged fight, they haul down their flags and scuttle. With their battered remaining destroyers, the Free British chase down the convoy. Seven merchantmen find themselves under escort to Boston, after escape attempts earn warning shots. Survivors from the lost Allied destroyers man them. For the Free British, it is just another instalment in their revenge. The war is far from being won. First Battle of Trenton: May 26, 1947 Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 119 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1971 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com