Читать книгу Dark Seas - JE Harrold - Страница 15

The Italian Fleet

The effective strength of the Italian battle fleet at this period was estimated as three battleships fit for service, viz.: Vittorio Veneto, G. Cesare and A. Doria, the other three not having yet been repaired after damage sustained in the Fleet Air Arm attack on Taranto in November 1940. Of cruisers a strong force was available, namely seven 8-in. and at least nine 6-in. ships, whilst the number of Italian destroyers seems to have been at least double that of the British. In submarines the advantage was also heavily on the Italian side. With regard to air forces, the enemy, heavily reinforced by the German Luftwaffe, was in a very strong position and the area to the westward of Crete was well within bombing range of his aerodromes in Sicily, Southern Italy and the Dodecanese.

The Italian fleet10 was organised as follows:

(1) Battleships (Force Y11), Vittorio Veneto (Flag, Admiral Iachino), and four destroyers (13th flot.).

(2) 1st Cruiser Division (Force Z11), Zara, Fiume, Pola and four destroyers (9th flot.).

(3) 3rd Cruiser Division (Force X11), Trento, Trieste, Bolzano and three destroyers (12th flot.).

(4) 8th Cruiser Division, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Duea Di Abruzzi and two destroyers (6th flot.).

The Italian forces, consisting of one battleship, eight cruisers and thirteen destroyers left their various ports on 26 March and, making junction at a rendezvous east of Syracuse, proceeded to the south-east (See Italian Fleet, Plan 11).