On 13 December, she participated in another operation to escort a convoy to North Africa, but the attempt was broken off after a British radio deception effort convinced the Italians that the British fleet was in the area. While returning to port the following day, "Vittorio Veneto" was torpedoed by the British submarine in the Straits of Messina. "Urge" fired a spread of three torpedoes, but only one hit on her port side. The torpedo tore a hole long and caused over of water to flood the ship, though the ship's Pugliese torpedo defense system successfully contained the explosion. "Vittorio Veneto" took on a 3.5 degree list to port and was down by by the stern. Some counter flooding of a compartment on the starboard side abreast of the forward-most turret reduced the list by a degree, and she was able to steam under her own power back to port. She returned to Taranto for repairs, which lasted until early 1942.