BATTLESHIP STRENGTH CUT BY HALF

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 7

BATTLESHIP STRENGTH CUT BY HALF

(UNITED PSESS ASSOCIATION—COP TRIG HT.) (Received November 14, 1 a.m.) LONDON, November 13. As a result of a brilliant attack carried out by the Fleet Air Arm on the Italian naval base at Taranto, in the Adriatic on Monday night, Italy’s battleship strength is believed to have been cut in half. In spite of all the efforts by the Italian Fleet to avoid an engagement with British vessels, a strong concentration of enemy warships was. located by Fleet reconnaissance machines and a strong attack was pressed k on ? e * Photographs taken since the attack confirm the earlier reports that the Italian Fleet suffered extensively. One battleship of the new Littorio (35,000-ton) class was left badly down by the bow and in a sinking condition. Another battleship of the Conte di Gavour (23,000-ton) class was down at the stern and run ashore. It is not yet certain, but highly probable, that a second battleship of the Conte di Gavour class was very seriously damaged. The Fleet Air Arm pressed its attack home to the inner harbour and there two cruisers are shown in the photographs to be listing heavily to starboard and surrounded by oil fuel. Two auxiliary fleet vessels were also put out of action. In spite of fierce anti-aircraft fire from the Italian ships and shore batteries, the Fleet Air Arm lost only two machines, and an Italian radio announcement, though making light of the naval losses, states that the crews of these machines have been made prisoners. In addition to this action, a British submarine recently attacked two Italian supply ships which were being convoyed. It sank a heavily-laden supply ship of about 3000 tons and damaged, and is believed to have sunk the other.

Surface vessels of the Royal Navy on Saturday night carried out a heavy bombardment of Italian shore installations at Sidi Barrani. They met’fierce fire from the shore batteries, but these were silenced. The British ships received no damage. Brassey’s Naval Annual lists four battleships of the Littorio class carrying nine 15-inch guns. Of these t W Littorio and Vittorio Veneto—are in service. The Other two are still under construction. Four battleships of the Conte di Gavour class were completed between 1914 and 1916, but all have recently been reconstructed and are in service.