[Automated]

This battle, which took place during WWII, marked the first all-aircraft naval attack in history. The results were definitive, as British planes destroyed much of the Italian fleet anchored in Toronto. The battle is seen as a turning point in military history, marking the end of the reign of "big-gun" battleships and leading to the rise of naval air power. Certain aspects of the attack were studied as part of the planning for what other notorious aerial bombardment?


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[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Automated

This battle, which took place during WWII, marked the first all-aircraft naval attack in history. The results were definitive, as British planes destroyed much of the Italian fleet anchored in Toronto. The battle is seen as a turning point in military history, marking the end of the reign of "big-gun" battleships and leading to the rise of naval air power. Certain aspects of the attack were studied as part of the planning for what other notorious aerial bombardment?
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That would be Pearl Harbor, on 12/7/1941

[Canucklehead]

Originally Posted by Automated

This battle, which took place during WWII, marked the first all-aircraft naval attack in history. The results were definitive, as British planes destroyed much of the Italian fleet anchored in Toronto.

I didn't realize that Toronto was a frequent stop for the Italian fleet. Must be Maple Leafs fans or something...

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

I didn't realize that Toronto was a frequent stop for the Italian fleet. Must be Maple Leafs fans or something...

Heh. Didn't notice that mistake. But if they were there I can understand why the British were so anxious to attack them.

This was hardly the first all-aircraft naval attack in history. The Tondern Raid in July 1918 was the first carrier air attack in history and would pre-date Taranto by 22 years. Planes from HMS Furious attacked and destroyed the Zeppelin sheds located in Tondern Germany.

They did get the photo right though. That is the Italian battleship Conte di Cavour sitting on the bottom after the attack. Those remodeled Italian battleships were not very effective but like most Italian ships of that period they were pretty to look at: