Battle of Punta Stilo Question

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gflotron
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Battle of Punta Stilo Question

Post by gflotron »

Was Italian Admiral Campioni right to have Conte di Cavour not engage Warspite along Giulio Cesare, and instead have her wait for the approaching Malaya?
Safe to say most navies would have employed same doctrine?
Just curious on any thoughts out there.
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hans zurbriggen
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Re: Battle of Punta Stilo Question

Post by hans zurbriggen »

Hello Mr. gflotron,
account of RN Cavour not opening fire at Punta Stilo against Warspite is an old story. According to Italian official records and photos, both ships opened fire against Warspite at around the same time (just after 15:53) from a measured distance of 26,000 meters (almost max range of their 320 mm). However it is true Cesare fired more shells: Cesare fired 74 shells (44 AP + 37 SAP), Cavour only 41 (4 AP +37 SAP) against Warspite. Also, it is true that Cavour mis-identified Warspite for another battleship in her report.
Source Bagnasco-De Toro: "Italian battleships Conte di Cavour and Duilio" 2021 Seaforth.

Please, see here two images of Italian open fire at Punta Stilo: Cesare open fire (image taken from Cavour) and Cavour (from Cesare) at almost same time.
Calabria_Giulio_Cesare_open fire.jpg
Calabria_Giulio_Cesare_open fire.jpg (27.63 KiB) Viewed 2253 times
Calabria_Cavour_open fire.jpg
Calabria_Cavour_open fire.jpg (19.59 KiB) Viewed 2253 times
hans
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wadinga
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Re: Battle of Punta Stilo Question

Post by wadinga »

Hi All,

Cunningham's own report of proceedings confirms both Italian battleships engaged Warspite after she opened fire at 15:53 . Warspite fired at the leading ship bearing 287 degrees, range 26,000yds. So the story of witholding fire is incorrect. It is possible the problem of distinguishing whose salvoes were whose resulted in a restricted rate of fire for one ship.

Warspit scored her hit at 16:00 and the Italian ships turned away, and Cunningham's flagship ceased fire at 16:04 having fired 17 salvoes.

All the best

wadinga
"There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today!"
Byron Angel
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Re: Battle of Punta Stilo Question

Post by Byron Angel »

I would surmise that the two Italian BBs, firing against a single target, were employing pair concentration rules. I am not familiar with WW2 Italian Navy concentration fire methodology, but it could have influenced the respective salvo rates of the two Italian BBs.

Byron
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