HMS NEPTUNE sank after striking a mine off the coast of Tripoli. Only one rating of the crew of 717 survived. Among those lost were the two RAN members of the ship’s company, ORD K. Campbell and ORD S. Kemp.
The Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS TOWNSVILLE, (LCDR J. Abbott, RAN(E)), was commissioned. TOWNSVILLE was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, on 4 November 1940, and launched on 13 May 1941.
HMAS NIZAM reported she was lifted bodily out of the water by an underwater explosion in Alexandria Harbour. Shortly after, HM Ships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, (battleships), bottomed at their moorings. The tanker SAGONA, and HMS JERVIS were severely damaged. The attack was launched by Italian frogmen.
HMA Ships CANBERRA and PERTH joined a convoy of comprising BLOEMFONTEIN (10,081grt), COAST FARMER (3290grt), MEIGS (12,568grt), WILLARD A. HOLBROOK (14,812grt), REPUBLIC (17,886grt), ADMIRAL HALSTEAD (3289grt), and CHAUMONT (7555grt) and USS PENSACOLA and USS NIAGARA, which had departed San Francisco on 21 November for the Philippines.