- Author
- Atwill, R., DSM, Lieutenant, RN (Rtd)
- Subjects
- None noted
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 1971 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Shortly before noon, two Fulmars of the Fleet Air Arm made contact with the Squadron, and, although a few more attacks were made, they did no damage. Himself wounded, Admiral Rawlings brought his shattered squadron safely back to Alexandria at 2000 that night – just 26 hours after we had sailed. Orion had two rounds of main armament left, no anti-aircraft ammunition, and only ten tons of fuel. She had lost her Captain, eighty-two of her ships company and some three to four hundred of the soldiers we had snatched from the hands of the enemy. Orion had filled the breach.