First Battle of the Mediterranean (The Era of Relative Peace)

First Battle of the Mediterranean
Part of European Front of World War III
Soviet Navy firing on Allied ships in the Mediterranean
Date July 20, 1989 - August 10,1989 Location Mediterranean Sea Result Strategic Soviet Victory Allies suffer heavy setback Majority of Allied ships sunk, capsized, or destroyed Remaining Allied ships retreat to Gibraltar Soviet invasions of Corsica, Sardinia, the Baeleric Islands, Malta, and Southern France
Belligerents
Soviet Union	United States United Kingdom Gibraltar France Italy Spain Greece Supported by: Cyprus Egypt Morocco

The First Battle of the Mediterranean was a naval engagement of the Allied Navy (composed of the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, and Greece) and the Soviet Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the gallantry showed by the Allied side, the Soviets ultimately emerged victorious after almost decimating the U.S. 6th fleet and sinking majority of the fleet. The U.S. losses one aircraft carrier, two destroyers, one frigate; Britain losses one carrier, one destroyer, and one corvette. The French Aircraft carrier, the Foch, is heavily damaged. Italy loses two frigates: one sunk and the other capsized. The remaining damaged ships retreated to Gibraltar, where they effectively form a blockade of the Straits to prevent any Soviet ship or submarine from escaping into the Atlantic Ocean.

The victory of the Soviets paved war for invasions of southern France, the French island of Corsica, the Italian island of Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and Malta.

The Foch aircraft carrier in Gibraltar.