Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Kubvira musi wa4 March, ngarava dzakawanda dzakabva kuAlexandria dzichienda kuPiraeus pashure pemazuva matatu, dzichiperekedzwa nengarava dzehondo dzeRoyal Navy neRoyal Australian Navy. Kunyange zvazvo kwaiva nokurwiswa nendege, izvi zvakanga zvisina zvakawanda zvazvakaita. Kubvira muna January, apo zvikepe zveItaly "Lupo" uye "Libra" zvakarwisa konvo AN 14 kubva kuSuda bay uye zvakaremadza ngarava huru "Desmoulea" kwehondo yose, zvikepe zveAllied zvaiwanzokwanisa kudzivisa kupinda muGungwa reAegean kuburikidza neKaso strait uye vakasarudza Antikithera strait panzvimbo, iyo yaiva kumadokero kweKrete. Ngarava yeItaly yakaedza zvikuru pakupera kwaMarch kuvhiringidza makondirakiti aya kumaodzanyemba kwechitsuwa, asi yakaguma mu
kukundwa kunoshamisa paCape Matapan.