The attack on St Elmo started towards the end of May. This attack proved to be more difficult for the Turks than they had anticipated. The fort was replenished with men and supplies during the night by boats from fort St Angelo.

The peninsula was also too narrow for the Turks to attack with the entire power of their army.

The star shaped fort also proved difficult for the canons to breech because of its configuration. Thousands of Ottomans were lost during this attack (around 4000), including the Turkish General, Dragut. It was only after a month, on the 23rd of June, that St Elmo could be conquered.

War brings terrible atrocities and loss of life; after St Elmo fell in the hands of the Ottomans, the Christian defenders of St Elmo were all killed and subsequently Grandmaster La Vallette ordered the killing of all Turkish prisoners.