 In mid-April, 1941, a five ship Axis convoy sailed from Naples, en route to Tripoli.It consisted of four German troopships ("Adana", "Arta", "Aegina" and "Iserlohn") and an Italian ammunition ship ("Sabaudia").The convoy was escorted by a "Luca Tarigo" (flagship) and two s, "Baleno" and "Lampo", all under orders from Commander Pietro de Cristofaro.