alternatehistory.com

I'm doing work on a timeline with a mid 1930s Anglo/Italian war that comes from the Abysinnian conflict.

I'm going to give a brass tacks description of the naval situation in the Mediterranean and describe the results of a battle.

This isn't prose and is pretty rough. I'm not looking for feedback on the battle. Its a rough outline not whats going tonappear in my timeline.

I am looking for feedback on how the results would be seen by the British public and the admiralty.

Eastern Mediterranean
British taskforce based around all British battleships in theater are engaged in a running battle with all Italian battleships.

Taranto
7 Italian heavy cruisers in harbour with associated vessels

British blockading force
6 county class heavy cruisers hms hood, reknown, & repulse
Hms Eagle, Argus & Hermes
4 elements
carrier force
3 blockading forces comprised of a battlecruiser and 2 county classes

This is before Swordfish are in service. The British goal is to force the Italian cruisers to come out of taranto.

The British blockade is relatively loose. To avoid Italian forces escaping the British admiral feels a need to split his blockade in 3 squadrons.

The Brits have 2 nights of carrier air raids on Taranto. There is minor to moderate damage to the Italians but no ships have been sunk. 5 cruisers have minor shock damage reducing their engines max speed by 2-3 knots 1 cruiser has lost fire control while another has a turret ruled out of action.

After 2 nights of carrier raids the Italians decide to abandon Taranto fleeing north.

The Italian cruisers encouter one the British blockading squadrons. The battlecruiser and two cruisers are wiped out taking out 5 Italian cruisers and damaging the remaining two. A second British cruiser force and/or carrier raid manages to finish the Italian cripples.

Would the British public reaction interpet this as victory or defeat?

Would the admiralty interpet the Admiral in command as being too risky dividing his force in three blockading elements. Two blockading elements would have suffered much lower casualties had they brought the Italian cruisers to battle.
Top