Naval Action off Gavdos-Matapan Prelude March 1941

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aurora
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Naval Action off Gavdos-Matapan Prelude March 1941

Post by aurora »

. On March 26 the fleet sortied to attack British shipping around Greece . Veneto was joined by eight cruisers and thirteen destroyers as she proceed around the Italian boot. The force was south of Crete on the morning of March 28 near the small island of Gavdos when the Vittorio Veneto was to engage four British light cruisers. The Orion, Ajax , Perth and Gloucester had been sighted at 0635 by a Ro.43 from Veneto . The cruisers with four destroyers were only 50 miles from the Italian battleship. The 3rd Cruiser Division consisting of Trieste , Trento and Bolzano closed the British.

At 0758 they were sighted and at 0812 opened fire at 25,000 meters. The British force withdrew from the Italian heavy cruisers and for forty minutes an ineffective long range gun duel was maintained. At 0850 the 3rd Division was ordered to reverse course and the British turned to follow them in turn. It was clear that the British did not know Veneto was close by. Admiral Iachino, the Italian commander, hoped to catch the British in a vice between the 3rd Cruiser Division on one side and the Vittorio Veneto on the other and at 1030 reversed the course of his flagship the Veneto . "At 1050 the Vittorio came within sight of Pridham-Wippell’s ships, which were taken completely by surprise. Iachino now ordered the 3rd Division to reverse its course to form the other half of the pincers, and at 1056 the Vittorio Veneto opened fire with her heavy guns at a range of about 25,000 mete

The British cruisers immediately pulled away at full speed toward the southeast. Covering themselves with heavy smoke screens, zig-zagging, and replying to the Italian fire with only a few salvos, they fled from the 381-mm. Shells, their higher speed increasing their distance from the battleship all the while. In the official British report it is noted that the Italian fire was`well aimed, and that one shell hit yhe water with an enormous splash; so close to the Orion that the ship was damaged considerably. The report said that the Gloucester – in the very moment in which the firing stopped – was in ‘very grave danger." ." (The Italian Navy in World War II, 1957, by Commander Marc’ Antonio Bragadin, at page 88) The Italian trap was imperfectly formed because the scouting Ro.43s had already departed for Rhodes much earlier because of their limited endurance.

It didn’t take long for the Fleet Air Arm to come to the aide of the British cruisers. At 1100 six Swordfish from HMS Formidable were sighted and manoeuvered to attack positions. At 1115 they bored in to attack the Veneto . "By 1115 the British torpedo planes had maneuvered into an attack position, and the Vittorio Veneto, at the very moment that its guns were about to reap the harvest of their fire, was forced to maneuver to defend itself against this new threat." ."
(The Italian Navy in World War II, 1957, by Commander Marc’ Antonio Bragadin, at page 89)

The Vittorio Veneto seemed to have a charmed life. She had never been damaged. She was at Taranto and was untouched from the famed British night attack. Other bombing attacks missed and she didn’t receive a scratch at Teulada. Again the British failed in their attempt to harm the Veneto as all torpedoes missed. However, it did allow the British cruisers to break contact and escape. Under aerial attack and with none of the promised air support materializing, Iachino set course for Taranto at 1130.

http://www.steelnavy.com/DelphisVVeneto.htm
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call

Jim
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aurora
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Re: Naval Action off Gavdos-Matapan Prelude March 1941

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ANOTHER VIEW
The sighting by Force " B " of a battleship at 1058 put a very different complexion on affairs. The enemy was known to be fast and H.M.S. GLOUCESTER had been reported only capable of 24 knots.Force " B " looked like being sandwiched between the VITTORIO VENETO and the 8 inch cruisers they had already engaged. It was with great relief that it was realised that Force " B " was able to make 30 knots and that the range was not closing.

V.A.L.F. -handled the squadron with great skill, holding the range open and taking every advantage of his smoke screen as he worked round to south-east to close the battlefleet; but there were some unpleasant minutes with 15inch salvos straddling the cruisers before the intervention of the Torpedo/Bomber striking force which gained a hit on the VITTORIO which caused her to turn away .

9. It had always previously been my intention, if contact were made with the enemy's fleet, to hold back the torpedo air striking force until the battle fleets had closed
within about 50 miles of each other, or until the enemy had definitely turned away. On this occasion owing to the exposed position of the cruisers it was necessary to launch the striking force unduly early. Few things could have been more timely than their intervention but it had the effect I had always feared, that the damaged enemy turned for home with a lead which could not be closed to gun range in daylight.

10. Meanwhile the battle fleet was pressing fast to close the enemy. V.A.L.F.'s signal
timed 1210 reporting he had lost touch actually reached me as Force " B " hove in sight at 1230. It might be argued that Force " B "should have followed and maintained touch when the enemy turned westward, but with the considerable chance which then existed of being cut off by superior force, and adequate air reconnaissance being available, it is considered that the Vice-Admiral, Light Forces, was correct in his decision to gain visual contact with the battle fleet and check respective positions before resuming the chase. His force had been outranged and outgunned by all
enemy vessels with which he had so far made contact.

Extracted from Admiral Cunningham-s Report of Proceedings in LONDON GAZETTE
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Jim
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Re: Naval Action off Gavdos-Matapan Prelude March 1941

Post by dunmunro »

aurora wrote:. . In the official British report it is noted that the Italian fire was`well aimed, and that one shell hit yhe water with an enormous splash; so close to the Orion that the ship was damaged considerably. The report said that the Gloucester – in the very moment in which the firing stopped – was in ‘very grave danger." ." (The Italian Navy in World War II, 1957, by Commander Marc’ Antonio Bragadin, at page 88) The Italian trap was imperfectly formed because the scouting Ro.43s had already departed for Rhodes much earlier because of their limited endurance....

It didn’t take long for the Fleet Air Arm to come to the aide of the British cruisers. At 1100 six Swordfish from HMS Formidable were sighted and manoeuvered to attack positions. At 1115 they bored in to attack the Veneto .
(The Italian Navy in World War II, 1957, by Commander Marc’ Antonio Bragadin, at page 89)
16. A battleship was sighted to the northward
at 1058. Half a minute later she opened an
accurate fire from about 32,000 yards and no
time was lost in altering to the southward,
increasing to full speed and making smoke.
ORION was the target for the first ten minutes
and the first salvos fell over. ORION was
straddled and suffered minor damage from a
near miss.
BATTLE OF MATAPAN, Adm Cunningham.
V.V. was attacked by 6 Albacores.
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aurora
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Re: Naval Action off Gavdos-Matapan Prelude March 1941

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I admire your zeal for accuracy Dunmunro; but expected much more from you re.this prelude to Matapan eg,"V.A.L.F.'s signal timed 1210 reporting he had lost touch actually reached me as Force " B " hove in sight at 1230. It might be argued that Force " B "should have followed and maintained touch when the enemy turned westward".

Was there any merit in Adm. Cunningham's suggestion-I ask because it was mooted ???
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call

Jim
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