Battle of the course Matapan

Battle of the course Matapan. March 29th, 1941 Naval battle having opposed the British and Italian naval forces.

Involved forces:

Italy: (Admiral Angelo Iachino) has edge of the battleship " Vittorio Veneto" very nine, 35000 tons

3 Cruiser S: Fiume, Pola and Zara
4 Destroyer S: Alfredo Oriani, Giosue Carducci, Vincenzo Gioberti and Vittoro Alfieri

Great Britain: (Admiral Andrew Cunningham)

1 Aircraft carrier: formidable the
3 linerships: Barham, Valiant and Warspite
9 destroyers: Greyhound, Griffin, Havoc, Hotspur, Janus, Jervis, Mohawk, Nubian and Stuart

The Italians lost 3 cruisers and two destroyers and English a Hydravion.

The Italians had modern cruisers faster than the British battleships. Indeed the battleships of Royal Navy present dated from the First World War and had been improved between the two Great Wars. However, the British ships, the battleships in any case, had the radar, contrary to the Italians. The British had also an aircraft carrier.

During the day the planes of the aircraft carrier the Formidable one succeeded in touching one of the Italian cruisers. The damaged cruiser was slowed down. All the Italian force of cruisers decided to remain and thus slowed down together its speed not to leave the cruiser damaged only behind.

That made it possible the British fleet to gain ground on the Italian fleet which turned over to Italy. The fallen night, the British fleet caught up with the Italian fleet thanks to its radars. The Italian fleet it, never saw the British approaching. The British opened their beams of light on the Italian cruisers taken completely by surprised and drew them with bearing end. The 3 Italian cruisers, among the best cruisers of the fleet, were promptly run.

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