18th December 1941 HMS Neptune a Leander-class light cruiser with HM Cruisers AURORA, PENELOPE, HM Destroyers: KANDAHAR, LANCE, LIVELY and HAVOCK moved to intercept the supply convoy reported outside the entrance to Tripoli harbour.
During the passage, in position 20 miles from Tripoli, ran into an enemy minefield. Hit one mine and disabled.
Whilst adrift Neptune hit second mine which wrecked propellers and rudder. Subsequently the vessel detonated a third mine which caused further damage aft.
Nearly three hours later a 4th mine was struck amidships and the ship then sank very quickly.
Only one seaman survived and he was taken prisoner. He was the only survivor out of a complement of 764.
There were 66 Royal Marines killed:
AUCHINLECK, James W, Corporal, RM, PLY/X 2373: BARLOW, William S, Marine, PLY/X 101070: BLACKWELL, George, Marine, PLY/X 1654: BOXALL, Leslie A, Marine, PLY/X 1721: BURROWS, Verdun C M W, Marine, CH/X 1348: CHAMBERS, George H, Marine, PLY/X 100460: CLOUGHLY, Norman D S, Marine, PLY/X 3749: COPPOCK, Colin F, Marine, PLY/X 100461: COPPOCK, Colin F, Marine, PLY/X 100461: CORNER, Arthur E G, Musician, RMB/X 1095: CRAY, Terence C, Marine, PLY/X 3754: CROCKER, William H, Sergeant, RM, PLY/X 731: CROKE, William T, Ty/Corporal, RM, PLY/X 1066: DALE, Dennis I T, Marine, PLY/X 100436: DAY, James E, Marine, PLY/X 3752:DICK, David, Musician, RMB/X 1093: DICKENS, George, Marine, PLY/X 100424: DOWLE, Sidney J, Marine, PLY/X 100444: DUBBER, Ronald A, Marine, PLY/X 3230: DUFTON, John, Marine, PLY/X 3765: EVOY, James, Marine, PLY/X 356: FACER, George B, Marine, PLY/X 3784:GLOVER, Reginald J, Marine, PLY/X 3759: GODDARD, Hayward T C, Musician, RMB/2879: GREAVES, Dennis, Musician, RMB/X 1467: GREEN, Frank, Marine, PLY/X 1531: HARRIS, Brynmor I, Marine, PLY/X 100395: HARRISON, Robert L, Marine, PLY/X 3783: HAWKINS, Thomas C, Marine, PLY/X 1028: HAYWARD, Charles E E, Ty/Corporal, RM, PLY/X 374,: HENDY, Norman, Marine, PLY/X 1659: HILL, Thomas W, Marine, PLY/X 3764: HOLLICK, Percy E, Marine, PLY/X 227: HOOPER, William, Marine, PLY/20840: HOOPER, William H R, Sergeant, RM, PLY/X 1127: HOPKINS, George A, Marine, PO/X 4219: HYNARD, Walter G, Marine, PLY/X 3756: JOYCE, Donald F, Band Master 2c, RMB/3032: LAVIS, George, Sergeant, RM, PLY/X 435: LEWIS, Robert J, Marine, PLY/21179: LOVETT, Frederick C, Marine, PLY/X 2301: MCGUFFOG, Andrew, Marine, PLY/X 100465: MEDCALF, Ernest W, Marine, PLY/X 3936: MILLAR, Noel L W, Act/Captain, RM: MURCH, William E, Ty/Sergeant, RM, PLY/X 624: NUTTALL, James, Marine, PLY/X 100411: O'BRIEN, Patrick G, Ty/Sergeant, RM, PLY/X 1527: PARTRIDGE, George W, Marine, PLY/X 100420: PATTERSON, John, Marine, PLY/X 100601: PHIPPS, Reginald C, Corporal, RM, PLY/X 1039,: PLAIN, Charles H M, Musician, RMB/2950: POOLE, Cyril E, Musician, RMB/X 1283: PREECE, Douglas R V, Corporal, RM, PLY/X 982: RABY, Albert F, Marine, PLY/X 100440: RANDALL, Douglas A, Musician, RMB/X 309,: REFFORD, Leonard, Marine, PLY/X 2642: ROBERTS, John O, Musician, RMB/X 1604: ROBINS, Henry A, Marine, PLY/X 1740: ROGERS, William J, Boy Bugler, PLY/X 2491: SERGISON, Andrew H W, Marine, PLY/X 1726: SHACKLETON, William T, Marine, PLY/X 100419: SIMPSON, John W, Marine, CH/X 3345: SMITH, Albert R, Bugler, PLY/X 3744: SOMMERFORD, Jack, Marine, PLY/X 3762: SOUTHGATE, William A, Musician, RMB/X 490: SPENCE, Walter A, Musician, RMB/X 593: TEBWORTH, Albert G, Marine, PLY/22622: VOSPER, Sydney A, Marine, PLY/21538: WALFORD, Selby H L, Corporal, RM, PLY/X 1536,: WHITWORTH, James, Marine, PLY/X 100412: WILCOCK, Joseph, Marine, PLY/X 100432: WILLIS, Oswald G L, Marine, PLY/X 3785: WRIGHT, Stanley H G, Marine, PLY/X 100267: YOUNG, Ronald J, Marine, CH/X 2902.