ITALIAN NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21280, 26 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN NAVY

DAMAGE TO VESSELS AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS THE ATTACK AT TARANTO (OfTlcial Wireless) (Received Nov. 26, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 25 Royal Air Force photographs released for publication today add visual testimony to the story told in an Admiralty communique of the damage inflicted on the Italian Navy during the Fleet Air Arm attack on Taranto on the night of November 11. The photographs which were taken, in brilliant sunshine from a height of between 6000 and 8000 feet—-an unusually low daylight operational height over a defended area—provide unchallengeable evidence, even to the lay eye, of the results of the attack, and under expert interpretation reveal hundreds of confirmatory details. One of the most remarkable photographs shows a 35,000-ton battleship of the Litto,rio class—almost certainly the Vittorio Veneto—badly down by the bows in-the merchant anchorage in the middle harbour, salvage ships and tube are seen alongside, with oil on the water. On the starboard bow is a tanker, which probably is assisting in pumping operations. Another auxiliary craft on the port bow and outside this ship is a large submarine, probably providing power, as the battleship having gone down by the head would have no power. Another photograph shows a 23,622-ton battleship of the Cavour class beached on the east shore of the outer harbour. She has a heavy list to starboard and the whole length of the starboard side is submerged. The stem is completely submerged aft of the rear gun turrets and a large quantity of oil is seen on the water. The complete absence of any activity around her two days after the attack strongly suggests that she has been abandoned. Battleships Camouflaged One interesting detail revealed in these aerial photographs is the camouflage on the deck of the Italian battleships—a practice which contrasts with that of the German Navy, which is completely without deck or superstructure camouflage. This camouflage gives a peculiar effect of light and shade in spirals like the decoration of a barbers’ pole. Reconnaissance flights after the Taranto raids showed that immediately after the attack the Italians made haste to withdrew the three undamaged battleships out of the six which were there at the time of the: raid, eight cruisers and nine destroyers to some safer anchorage. The Italian warships in the inner harbours before the night of November 11 are understood to have consisted of six battleships, ten cruisers, 27 destroyers and many torpedoboat:. List to Starboard A third photograph shows another battleship of the Cavern* class down by the bows and beached on the shore of the outer harbour with a list to starboard, and auxiliary vessels alongside. Attempts are obviously being made to render the vessel seaworthy enough to tow her out for repairs. A cruiser of the Trento class and a cruiser of the Bolzano class are among the shipping in a fourth photograph, which shows considerable oil on the water around them. It is reasonable to assume that both cruisers are damaged. KILLED WHILE FLYING LIEUTENANT G. B. LEGGE (United Press Assn.- Elec. TeK Copyright) (Received Nov. 26, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, Nov.'2s The deaf* has occurred of Lieutenant G. B. Legge, R.N.V.R., of the Fleet Air Arm. He was killed while flying.