The Italian fleet was shadowed by British aircraft from Malta beginning at 13:07. At 14:30 the Italian fleet was about 40 miles from the convoy, but "...decided to return home around 14:30 on the 27th when..." it "... learned that the British had two battleships, a carrier and six cruisers at sea." Aircraft from "Ark Royal" shadowed the Italian fleet from 15:15 to 17:50. Cr.42 fighters arrived at 15:30 to provide air cover, but the squadron leader of the first flight was shot down by friendly fire from an Italian destroyer. Two more Italian pilots were lost when another flight of ten C.200s ran out of fuel and ditched at sea. At 14:46 "Prince of Wales", "Rodney", "Sheffield", "Edinburgh", and six destroyers steamed toward the Italian fleet; but were recalled at 17:00 before making contact, and rejoined the convoy at 18:30. "Nelson", "Rodney", "Prince of Wales" and "Ark Royal" turned west to return to Gibraltar escorted by "Duncan", "Fury", "Gurkha", "Lance", "Legion", "Lively". "Garland", "Piorun", and "Isaac Sweers". "Euryalus" fell in astern of the port column of merchant ships while "Sheffield" and "Hermione" joined the starboard column as the remaining destroyers closed into a night steaming formation. The night steaming formation was attacked by a few torpedo bombers, and "Imperial Star" was struck by a single torpedo. "Oribi" took the damaged freighter in tow. Italian "Motoscafo armato silurante" (MAS torpedo boats) deployed through the Strait of Messina, but failed to find the convoy.