Italian Fleet Smashed

Series

Series Name
Pathe Gazette

Issue

Issue No.
41/27
Date Released
3 Apr 1941
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1Their Majesties Visit the Canadians
  2. 2Realistic ARP Exercises
  3. 3Duchess of Gloucester with the Women’s Land Army
  4. 4Queen Visits Salvage Centres
  5. 5Mr Morrison Speaks on Gas
  6. 6Italian Fleet Smashed

Story

Story No. within this Issue
6 / 6
Summary
Mr Churchill announced on Nov 13th 1940 that two Italian battleships, two cruisers and two fleet auxiliaries were put out of action in the naval raid on Taranto Harbour on Monday Nov 1940. This reduced Italy’s naval strength by half, and made her Mediterranean fleet inferior to that of the British. This story depicts the British warships that took part in the battle with the Italian fleet off Cape Matapan on Sunday 30th March 1941. In this engagement the Italian cruisers Zara, Fiume and Pola were sunk, the British suffered no loss, damage or casualties. The ships were under the command of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham. The heavy losses suffered by the Italian navy in these two battles gave Britain a substantial lead in sea power in the Mediterranean.
Keywords
Politics and government; Navy; Military
Locations
Mediterranean Sea
Length of story (in feet)
144
Story extras:
Film clip
Production Documents

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Film Archive

Name
British Pathe Ltd
Email
info@britishpathe.com
Web
https://www.britishpathe.com/
Phone
0207 665 8340
Address
3.29 Canterbury Court
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE
Notes
Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.
Series held
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