An attack on Gibraltar

After failing in their attack on Malta, the Tenth Light Flotilla turned its attention back to Gibraltar. They had tried three previous attacks: September and October 1940, and May 1941. They planned a new attack, this time with human torpedoes. They launched the attack on 20 September 1941. The naval tanker Denbydale was attacked in the naval harbour by one human torpedo. The tanker was "seriously damaged" "but remained afloat". "Two other merchant ships were attacked in the commercial anchorage". They succeeded in sinking one and caused the other to need to be beached to stay afloat. All the human torpedo crew members, two per torpedo, escaped to Spain and were eventually returned to Italy. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.