The fleet again put to sea on 8 October with the intention of supporting Malta convoy MF.3 and the Alexandria-bound convoy MF.4, while seeking to engineer an encounter with the main assets of the Italian Navy. Although Admiral Cunningham did not realise his latter objective, which was limited to an engagement with Italian destroyers, the convoys reached their respective destinations. "Illustrious" then conducted aerial operations against Italian installations on the island of Leros. While "Liverpool" and other escorts were returning from the sortie on 14 October, Italian torpedo-bombers attacked the cruiser, inflicting considerable damage to the forward section and causing fuel to be released from the aviation tank. The "Liverpool" was torpedoed by a Savoia-Marchetti "278-6" piloted by Capitano Massimiliano Erasi. According to Captain Read, despite the petrol being surrounded with 70 tons of water in accordance with regulation, the fuel reached the mess decks and became exposed to an electrical short circuit. The subsequent explosion, at 19:20, seriously compromised "Liverpool"s bow structure, enveloped the forecastle in flames, and blew up the vacated "A" turret.