World War II Database

As a precursor to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the British dealt a blow to the Italian navy at Taranto in late 1940. This attack would serve as a precedence that gave Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto the confidence for planning the attack against the shallow Hawaiian harbor.

Under the command of Rear Admiral Lyster, the carrier Illustrious launched his 21 Swordfish aircraft in two waves against the Italian port. The British aircraft caught six Italian battleships, nine cruisers, and eight destroyers completely off guard. The battleship Conte di Cavour was sunk in harbor, the battleship Littorio suffered three torpedo hits, and the battleship Caio Diulio suffered one torpedo hit. The heavy cruiser Trento received heavy damage, along with several destroyers badly hurt. Shore facilities were damaged as well.

The successful Operation Judgement, the first British all-aircraft attack, tipped the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean in the favor of the Allies by disabling half of the Italian fleet. The Italians had actually detected Allied reconnaissance flights near Taranto and should had been warned, but the combination of being lax in vigilance and the lack of radar sealed the Italian fleet's doom. The British only suffered two casualties when two Swordfish aircraft were struck down by anti-aircraft fire.

Photographs

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Alan Chanter says:
   19 Jan 2008 09:25:06 AM
   
   A few days before the mission the carrier HMS Eagle suffered problems with her fuel systems. Several Swordfish were transferred to HMS Illustrious before it sailed from Alexandria. Ther first wave of 12 aircraft (six with Torpedoes, four with bombs and two with mixed flares and bombs)were launched at 20.00 hrs on the evening of the 11th November. Most of the rear gunners were left behind since their position was taken up by an additional fuel tank. The second wave (five with torpedoes, two with bombs and two with flares and bombs)was launched thirty minutes later. One aircraft aborted for technical reasons and two were lost to flak. All the remainder were safely recovered by 03.00 hrs.

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