In the original history, the Italian Navy relied on their port of Taranto in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula, and relied on its superior geographical conditions to move and retreat freely with Sicily to control the sea control of the entire Central Mediterranean. It also attacked British transportation in the Mediterranean at any time.
The fleet put the British army's logistics supply in Egypt into a dilemma.
Inigo Campioni, the commander of the Italian Navy at the time, adopted a strategy of sticking to the defense and waiting for opportunities to attack. He usually stationed the main force of the fleet in the port of Taranto. Once a fighter plane was discovered, he would immediately attack and leave after the attack.
Entangled.
This strategy caused great trouble to Cunningham, the commander of the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet at the time. Several attempts to lure snakes out of the hole to break through the Italian Navy's defense failed.
In the end, Cunningham adopted a brand-new air attack tactic, relying on the aircraft carrier Glorious, and used aviation and carrier-based aircraft to sneak attack the Port of Taranto, destroying three Italian battleships at the cost of two carrier-based aircraft.
It was sunk, two were damaged, a cruiser and a destroyer were damaged.
Although this air attack was not as brilliant as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which established the aircraft carrier's status as the new protagonist of naval battles instead of battleships, it was the first time in human history that aircraft carrier-based aircraft were used as the main force in naval battles, creating a new era of naval warfare.
The first aircraft carrier-based aircraft to attack an enemy naval base.
The British Navy in this era was not reduced to the unbearable Fira with only kayaks left in the ship parade. It was still the world's number one maritime military power. The innovation and decision-making shown in the entire Battle of Taranto can be seen
Remarkable.
Throughout World War II, although the British Royal Navy had shown its decline and seemed to be in twilight, they still defended the last dignity of the Royal Navy.
However, this can also be said to be the last glory of the Royal Navy. As Cunningham retired with the rank of Marshal, the Royal Navy also began to decline. It was no longer a battle of brave sailors, but a battle between technocrats.
With the disintegration of the British colonial system, the once glorious Royal Navy was dismantled amidst the clamor that "the Labor Party is ruining the country". War-weariness, glory, prestige, Elizabeth... While old ships with outstanding merits were being dismantled, they were also dismantled.
The once glorious Royal Navy was dismembered.
For Chen Mo, it was an unpleasant thing to watch those once glorious battleships come to an end.
Of course, his emotions were only towards the battleships themselves, not the colonial empire they symbolized.
And precisely because he knew what the fate of these battleships would be in the future, when he looked at the Warspite, Glory and Ark Royal of the Mediterranean Fleet, his strange eyes made Cunningham who was accompanying him feel particularly uncomfortable.
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As Italy declared war on Egypt and sent its navy to try to launch an attack on Egypt to seize the Suez Canal, Egypt naturally had to respond.
For this reason, the Egyptian Navy is naturally ready to go, and an aircraft carrier battle group is already ready for battle.
At the same time, the British Mediterranean Fleet will also join the Egyptian Navy to form a joint fleet to fight against the Italian Navy, fulfilling its obligations as an alliance while also defending Britain's own interests.
The two fleets are already familiar with the cooperation and do not need additional adjustments. However, the two fleets are about to go on an expedition. As the king, Chen Mo needs to come and inspect them both emotionally and rationally.
This also caused Chen Mo's eyes to look particularly strange when he saw the warships moored at the port.
If it weren't for Chen Mo's identity as the head of state of a foreign country, and Egypt is now also an important ally of Britain, the Mediterranean fleet would also need to rely on the power of the Egyptian navy. Cunningham really wanted to ask Chen Mo loudly, but you looked at him with a look of nostalgia and emotion.
What does my fleet mean?
In the navies of various countries, there is a tradition of referring to battleships as "she" or "ma'am". In a sense, it is not an exaggeration to say that these battleships are the wives of the navy.
And now, Chen Mo is looking at the battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet with a look of great admiration and regret at the same time, as if he were looking at a flower stuck in cow dung. This makes Cunningham seem to be taken away by someone.
Environmentally friendly colored hats are also suitable.
Fortunately, Chen Mo quickly withdrew his gaze, looked at Cunningham, and asked him: "General Cunningham, do you have any strategy for dealing with the Italian Navy this time?"
"If the Italian Navy has been huddled in the base at the Port of Taranto, we may really have no good way to deal with them." Seeing Chen Mo talking about business, Cunningham quickly retracted his thoughts and replied seriously.
: "But the Italians take the initiative to attack, which gives us the opportunity to deal with them! The Royal Navy is never afraid of any enemy. If the Italians want a decisive battle with their fleets, the Mediterranean Fleet will make them understand that they don't have battleships to call a navy.
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Hearing what Cunningham said, Chen Mo frowned slightly, but after hesitating for a moment, he still said to Cunningham: "There is no doubt about the strength of the Mediterranean fleet, but is the fleet battle a little reckless?"
Seeing that Cunningham seemed a little disapproving, Chen Mo made it clear to him directly: "Instead of relying on battleships to compete, why don't we use aircraft carriers' carrier-based aircraft to conduct air strikes?"
"Air strike? Use those carrier-based aircraft?" Cunningham suddenly fell into thinking when he heard Chen Mo mention air strikes and aircraft carrier-based aircraft.
As an excellent naval general, Cunningham did not care about Chen Mo's words just because he looked like an amateur.
On the contrary, the moment Chen Mo mentioned air strikes, he was keenly aware of the feasibility of this tactic.
In this era, although aircraft carriers have gradually become popular, so far no country has tried to use aircraft carriers as the main force to fight a naval battle.
And this also means that no fleet commander will consider battleships to defend aircraft carriers from air attacks!
The original overlord battleship at sea will be an undefended target when faced with incoming carrier-based aircraft!
Especially when the fleet is anchored in the port, the entire fleet is almost defenseless against air attacks!
Cunningham felt like he was trembling all over. This was a brand new way of fighting! A tactic that had never been used before! The carrier-based aircraft of the aircraft carrier would become a decisive weapon in a naval battle.
An important force in action!
After thinking about this, Cunningham's eyes lit up, and he asked Chen Mo: "Your Majesty Chen Mo, how did you come up with this method of applying carrier-based aircraft? This is simply wonderful! If we directly use ships
If a carrier aircraft attacks the port of Taranto, the Italian Navy will be unable to fight back!"
