Swordfish: The Story of the Taranto Raid

by David Wragg

The year 1940 was bad for Britain; German victories in Poland and France left the British fighting alone. On the night of November 11, the Royal Navy’s HMS Illustrious struck back with a daring raid in which 20 Swordfish torpedo bombers inflicted severe losses on the Italian fleet at Taranto. Here is the true story of the raid, an attack which permanently tipped the balance of power in the Mediterranean toward the Allies.

Genres: History, World War II, War

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Robin Braysher]

This is not only a lively and readable account of the amazing Taranto read, but it also puts it into the context of naval aviation and the wider war in the Mediterranean, both before and after the raid, and follows up the careers of the participants.

[Rob]

Factual account of the attack on Taranto, WW2, by Swordfish bi-planes of the Fleet Air Arm, and of the events leading up to the battle and of the after effects.