Six ratings from HMAS YARRA, (sloop), disguised as Arab fishermen, carried out a daring reconnaissance of Maqil, Iraq. This was in preparation for Operation Scoop, which was the British invasion of Iraq to prevent the country siding with Germany.
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), sank a caique loaded with troops, north of Crete, and together with HMAS NAIAD, (destroyer), engaged enemy destroyers. During the day the ship was under continuous German air attack. A signal was received from the C-in-C, Mediterranean, that night; ‘Stick it out. Navy must not let the Army down. No enemy force must reach Crete by sea’. In the next 24 hours the Luftwaffe sank two cruisers and two destroyers, and damaged two battleships and two destroyers.