It was, however, seen as a missed opportunity by Italian leadership. Campioni wrongly believed until the morning of the 27th that the enemy forces attacked during the night by Sirio was Admiral Somerville’s force from Gibraltar. All rights reserved. [1][8], Admiral Somerville deployed his forces into two main groups, with five cruisers under Rear Admiral Lancelot Holland in front and two battleships and seven destroyers in a second group to the south. Four minutes later, Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino, commander of the Italian cruiser group, received order to disengage, although the battle was slightly in their favour. Situation at 1315 from Renown’s Plot, during the Battle of Cape Spartivento. It was, however, seen as a missed opportunity by Italian leadership. This advantage was soon negated, however, when at 13:00, Vittorio Veneto opened fire from 27,000 m. Vittorio Veneto fired 19 rounds in seven salvoes from long range and that was enough for the now outgunned British cruisers, which turned back at the fourth salvo. At 13:00, once the Italian fleet regrouped, the Vittorio Veneto opened fired on the British at distances between 28,000 and 32,000 meters. The Battle of Cape Spartivento (Italian: Battaglia di Capo Teulada), on 27 November 1940, was the first significant naval action in the Mediterranean after the Raid on Taranto. On the night of 17 November, an Italian force consisting of two battleships (Vittorio Veneto and Giulio Cesare) and a number of other units were about to intercept … The Italian Navy, however, didn't decline battle if given the opportunity. The operation went almost unopposed by the Italians, except for scattered torpedo bomber attacks from the Aegean islands. A second hit at 12:35 destroyed the after breaker (electrical switchboard) room and cut power to the ship's aft section, including the remaining aft turret. Cruiser Bolzano, during the battle of Capo Teulada. The Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto firing a broadside at the Battle Of Cape Spartivento. The two fleets gathered and sailed south-west for most of the day. Origins. Italian Battleship Veneto: The last met up at Castle R arrived quicker than anticipated last week, work and home commitments meant I had very little spare time for organisation. Images, videos and other multimedia published on comandosupremo.com qualifies as Fair Use under U.S. copyright law. Recognizance and intelligence reports coming to Rome confirmed enemy movements both in Western and Eastern Mediterranean. I deeply love history and especially military history. So he reluctantly changed course attempting to reunite with the Battleships. Image take from HMS Sheffield. One fought in Russia with the Italian Expeditionary Corp and the other one fought alongside the Partisans. [2][3], This Italian success in disrupting the aerial reinforcement of Malta seriously upset British plans for a further convoy to supply the island (Operation Collar). Image: Public Domain. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The goal was to reinforce Malta with 12 Hurricane fighters launched from HMS Argus. Meanwhile, on 25 November 1940, Somerville departed from Gibraltar. That is why one has large Naval collections lying around. This order is similar to the much more fatal one given during the night of the Battle of Cape Matapan. Meanwhile, Admiral Angelo Iachino, commanding the cruiser divisions, sighted enemy ships and ordered to open fire. These orders provided him little room for maneuver and dependent on the final decision coming from the high command (Supermarina). At 11:50, he signaled Supermarina his intentions to withdraw. [4], The British, aware of the Italian fleet's movements, sent their forces north to intercept them before they could come anywhere near the cargo ships. The British convoy was warned of their approach and immediately turned about and returned to Gibraltar, sending off their aircraft (two Blackburn Skuas and 12 Hawker Hurricanes) prematurely. Between 12:00 and 12:15, Campioni ordered the fleet to change course and direct for the bases. A Net Inceptions project. The British Admiral assumed that these were Italian units closing for battle. The sighting provided Campioni confirmation that the two forces were attempting a rendezvous. Section 107 specifies usage of copyright material falls under Fair Use when it is applied for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching and research. Giorgio Giorgerini, La Guerra Italiana sul mare: la marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940–1943, Edizione Mondadori (2001). It was fought between naval forces of the British Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina on 27 November 1940. The destroyer Lanciere, hit in the engine compartment during the battle, was towed back to Messina. [5][6], Shortly after, at 9:56, Somerville received the report of his own aircraft from the carrier HMS Ark Royal about the presence of five cruisers and five destroyers.
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