Somerville transferred his flag to the battlecruiser HMS "Renown" in August 1940 and led the British forces in the Battle of Cape Spartivento in November; Churchill was outraged at Somerville for not continuing the pursuit of the Italian Navy after that battle and dispatched Earl of Cork and Orrery to conduct an inquiry, but Cork found that Somerville had acted entirely appropriately. Force H bombarded Genoa on 9 February 1941, and Somerville, still in HMS Renown in May 1941, also played an important role in the pursuit and sinking of the later that month. Somerville transferred his flag to the battleship HMS "Nelson" in August 1941 and also played a major role in protecting Malta from enemy attack in autumn 1941. He transferred his flag to the battleship HMS "Rodney" and then to the battleship HMS "Malaya". He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service with Force H on 21 October 1941.