The fighters break off, and engage the escort planes.

The F.W. 19 has defensive guns, which shoot at the fighters as they break off, hoping to keep them away, the escorts engage, they have the numerical advantage but AA from the ships evens things out, the Roman forces loos 11 planes while the attackers take damage and loose some too, the remaining 7 break off and return to the Aviation Cruisers, the F.W.-19's unleash the guns on the carriers and then leave, such an attack does not sink the carrier but damage the flight deck so fighters have a very hard time landing, and an even harder one taking off.