Operation Crush

'Crush' was a British carrierborne air attack on Cagliari on the Italian island of Sardinia (31 July/2 August 1940).

Undertaken by Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville’s Gibraltar-based Force 'H', the operation was co-ordinated with 'Hurry' and involved the battle-cruiser Hood, the fleet carrier Ark Royal, the light cruiser Enterprise, and the destroyers Faulknor, Forester, Foresight and Foxhound, with more distant support furnished by the battleships Resolution and Valiant, the light cruiser Arethusa and the destroyers Escapade and Velox.

Ark Royal flew off 12 Fairey Swordfish single-engined bombers to attack Cagliari and lay mines in its harbour, tasks which they accomplished without suffering any loss.