Swordfish. The Story Of The Taranto Raid

Cover Type: Softcover
Book Condition: Good
Jacket Condition: None Issued
Publisher: Cassell
Publisher Place: London
Publisher Year: 2003
Edition: First Edition

Description: 240 pages. Book is in general good condition. There is some light reading wear present, but still a presentable copy.

Publishers Description: The daring British air raid that inspired the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.In November 1940 Britain was isolated in its stand against Nazi Germany and its ally, Italy. The country could not afford to lose control of the Mediterranean, but the Royal Navy was already overstretched by the U-boat war and the threat of invasion. Italys fleet of modern battleships presented a grave threat to our communications with Egypt and the Suez Canal.On the night of 11 November 1940, 42 members of the Fleet Air Arm took off in 21 obsolete Swordfish biplanes, launched from HMS Illustrious. Their the Italian fleet anchorage at Taranto. Pressing home their attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and searchlights, they torpedoed and sank three battleships. Incredibly, all but two of the biplanes survived. The Italian fleet was crippled and the world took note that Britain was far from defeated. No-one was more impressed than the Japanese, who noted how a fleet in harbour could be demolished by air attack.In this new account of the Royal Navys most daring operation of the Second World War, David Wragg draws on British and Italian records as well as interviews with the aircrew, to tell the full story of a night that changed the course of the war.

ISBN: 9780304366828