Operation Judgment
Two engagements define this struggle for control and they are The Battle of Taranto and the Battle of Cape Matapan.
The first encounter between the British and Italian Navies is referred to as the Battle of Taranto and was codenamed Operation Judgment by the British..
The British fleet consisted of 21 torpedo bombers, 1 aircraft carrier, 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers.
The Italian fleet consisted of 6 battleships, 7 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 8 destroyers.
The main difference between a heavy and light cruiser is the type of weaponry and degree of protection or armor. Heavy cruisers have more weapons and are better protected then light cruisers but light cruisers are faster and more maneuverable.
The British implemented a plan of attack that was referred to as Operation Judgment in November 1940. The Italian Navy’s homeport was a southern Italian city called Taranto and gave them easy access to the Mediterranean and North African coastline making it easy for the Italian Navy to ferry troops and supplies between Europe and Africa. The idea of Operation Judgment was to catch the Italian fleet in port and launch an aerial attack from their aircraft carriers destroying the fleet while they lay at anchor.
The British using aerial surveillance confirmed on November 11th 1940 that the Italian fleet was still in Taranto and Admiral Cunningham of the British Fleet ordered the attack to begin. This attack would consist of two waves of torpedo bombers attacking the Italian fleet. The 21 Fairey Swordfish biplanes would be launched in two waves, the first wave of 12 followed an hour later by 9 planes. The planes would carry one of two types of ammo or payload. 11 of the planes launched carried torpedoes and the remainder carried flares and bombs (this was so they could light up the night sky and easily target the ships in the harbor).
When the attack was over the British planes sunk 1 battleship and heavily damaged two battleships, and a heavy cruiser. The British only lost two planes. In one night attacking by surprise the Royal Navy dealt a significant blow to the Italian navy forcing them to relocate the fleet to the port city of Naples which would make it more difficult for the Axis to ferry troops and supplies from Italy to Africa.
Linked below is a power point presentation file that shows the engagement map, troop strengths at the start of the battle and losses for both the Allies and the Axis.
The second engagement is referred to as the Battle of Cape Matapan. In March 1941 the Italian Navy launched Operation Gaudo with the goal of re-establishing its power in the eastern Mediterranean. This plan was designed based on intelligence received by the Germans that indicated the British fleet in the Mediterranean only had one operational battleship. This was false they in fact had three fully operational battleships in addition to working radar which the Italian Navy did not even know existed. The resulting engagement was a game of cat and mouse between the two fleet commanders each trying to trap the other until the British was able to get the Italian flagship in a position that allowed it to be attacked by their torpedo bombers. Though this initial air strike failed it forced the Italian admiral to retreat heading back to Naples.
The British fleet using radar that the Italians lacked, was able to approach the Italian fleet undetected. The British closed and open fire and in less then ten minutes two heavy cruisers and two destroyers were lost.
This was a decisive victory for the British navy and gave control of the eastern Mediterranean to the Allies. The British only lost three men in this engagement (the crew of one torpedo bomber), while the Italians were dealt a great loss losing 3 heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers and over 2,400 sailors died.
Follow this link below to review a short 5 minute documentary film discussing the struggle between the British and Italian fleets in the Mediterranean. I apologize in advance for the commercial you have to view prior to the actual film.
.http://www.5min.com/Video/The-English-Attack-on-the-Italian-Navy-in-1940-516911281
Linked below is a power point presentation file that shows the engagement map, troop strengths at the start of the battle and losses for both the Allies and the Axis.
The British fleet using radar that the Italians lacked, was able to approach the Italian fleet undetected. The British closed and open fire and in less then ten minutes two heavy cruisers and two destroyers were lost.
This was a decisive victory for the British navy and gave control of the eastern Mediterranean to the Allies. The British only lost three men in this engagement (the crew of one torpedo bomber), while the Italians were dealt a great loss losing 3 heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers and over 2,400 sailors died.
Follow this link below to review a short 5 minute documentary film discussing the struggle between the British and Italian fleets in the Mediterranean. I apologize in advance for the commercial you have to view prior to the actual film.
.http://www.5min.com/Video/The-English-Attack-on-the-Italian-Navy-in-1940-516911281
Linked below is a power point presentation file that shows the engagement map, troop strengths at the start of the battle and losses for both the Allies and the Axis.