In the very early hours of the 12th October, while escorting an eastbound convoy east of Malta, HMS Ajatx sighted, by moonlight, two Italian destroyers. Ajax engaged them at fairly close range.
One was disabled and on fire, the other blew up. While the engagement was inprogress another Italian destroyer came into view and after a short engagement blew up. Two more destroyers were seen but hey escaped under a smoke screen. Later that day the blazing destroyers was sunk by gunfire from HMS York after life rafts had been dropped for the crew to abandon ship.