 Some shells had landed close to British ships as they finished off the convoy but caused only splinter damage to "Lively"'s funnel; by firing has ceased.All of the Axis merchant ships had sunk or been destroyed, along with "Fulmine"; the tanker "Minatlitan", with a cargo of aviation spirit, burned until it sank in the middle of the morning.The British headed at high speed towards Malta at being ineffectively chased by the covering force, reaching harbour at Malta by that afternoon.