35 German Heinkel HE 111 torpedo bombers, and 12 Junkers JU 88 escorts from Kampfgruppe 26, (a specialist torpedo bomber squadron), attacked a convoy being escorted by HMA Ships GAWLER, IPSWICH, LISMORE and MARYBOROUGH, off Alboran Island near the Straits of Gibraltar. HM Ships SHOREHAM, WHITEHAVEN, HYTHE, ROMNEY, and RYE, were also part of the convoy escort. In the ensuing battle, two merchant ships were hit, but managed to reach port. Nine German aircraft were shot down, and several damaged. MARYBOROUGH was credited with shooting down one of the JU 88’s, and IPSWICH damaged four enemy aircraft. The RAN’s only casualty was one man wounded in GAWLER. The C-in-C Mediterranean, later signaled to the Australian ships:- I congratulate you, the escort force and Convoy MKS21 on your sterling defence of convoy against torpedo bomber attack. The enemy got a sore head he is likely to remember’.