Seeschlacht bei Kap Teulada
In August 1940 Iachino was given command of the 2nd Naval Squadron (consisting of the 1st, 3rd and 7th Naval Divisions), with flag on the heavy cruiser "Pola", after its previous commander, Admiral Riccardo Paladini, came down with angina pectoris. In this role, he participated on 27 November 1940 in the Battle of Cape Spartivento. On 9 December 1940 he replaced Admiral Inigo Campioni as commander of the entire battle fleet of the Regia Marina, with flag on the battleship "Vittorio Veneto".