Battle of Taranto 1940 - Animated

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The Italian Navy threatens vital supply convoys that must flow through the Mediterranean to Allied forces in Malta, North Africa, the Middle East, and onwards to the Suez Canal. The Royal Navy launches a carrier launched torpedo bomber attack against the Italian battleships at their base at Taranto. The raid would be carefully studied by the Japanese in their preparations for the attack on Pearl Harbor a year later.
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Music: www.purple-planet.com

[@TheOperationsRoom]

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[@lolmao500]

I hope you do an episode on the russian attack on ukraine 2022.

[@clonecommando-cn6bo]

i wonder how your animation would look like if you described the Giant heavy gustav hitler built...the worlds largest gun at the time only to be used 2 times

[@gessl1940]

Loving those torpedo and water animations. Such amazing stuff. Quality just gets better and better.👏👌

[@jerrydabear7724]

@@lolmao500 but the russians have not attacked the ukrainians yet, and they probably won't.

[@kadinkol]

what animation program do you use? thanks.

[@desmond-hawkins]

5:50 "without reason, Williamson then crashes into the harbor waters". I was curious about this lack of explanation, so looked it up. Wikipedia says "Williamson's plane was immediately shot down by the Italian battleship's anti-aircraft guns" and has an Italian book extract as a reference for the claim. Air Force Magazine has an article about it, also saying "Moments later, Williamson and Scarlett were shot down. Their airplane crashed into the harbor but the Italians fished them out. They spent the rest of the war as POWs." And a third reference, the book "Taranto 1940" by historian Angus Konstam (entirely dedicated to this mission) _also_ says "Cdr. K. Williamson Lt. N. Scarlett shot down, crew survived" - so will all these sources I'm now pretty convinced.

[@SirJamesSomerville99]

Correct, as do the works referenced for this video. However, at the time, there was confusion as to what had happened to the aircraft, and given these videos go through the events as they are (to the greatest possible extent) it's correct.

[@isaal-magyari9203]

Thank you, I noticed that as well. There is also no explanations as to why the brits tied a "standard issue" black boot to one of the bombs either. the narrator puts it out there and then leaves ya hanging

[@eyanmartin-snyder3435]

@@isaal-magyari9203 maybe just a joke on Italy looking like a boot? Lol

[@desmond-hawkins]

@@isaal-magyari9203 I was wondering about this too. Konstam's book does mention it, but he doesn't explain why either: "He flattened out and dropped his six bombs, one of which had a black marine boot tied to it - an additional gift from the Royal Marines." (page 66). It's not easy to research since almost all web search results are about Taranto being located "inside the heel of Italy's boot", with a few mentioning the actual shoe but none that I could find giving a reason for it.

[@Searly255]

AA most likely blew the rear flaps or tail free as he flew over the ship causing a sudden dive, thankfully the low attack altitude and low top speed of the swordfish probably saved them

[@Searly255]

The pilots who flew swordfish deserve so much respect. Attacking modern naval vessels in such an ancient design of plane must have made every pilot fly like its his last mission.

[@alexlyster3459]

Ironically it quite possibly saved many of the pilots. The Wood/canvas frames of the Swordfish could take hits in many places with little issue, and more importantly the hydraulic turning rates on the Italian AA guns were calibrated to track faster more modern aircraft. As such targetting the Swordfish was tricky for the defenders BECAUSE of their perceived Obsolescence.

[@zaen_vg]

Also considering how it went with Bismarck the biplane handling contributed a lot, one was even able to get through barrage balloons

[@magoshighlands4074]

Another note is that most HE shells would just punch clean through the canvas without detonating, so a shot that would cleave the wing off a modern craft would only inconvenience a swordfish

[@Mrhalligan39]

The Swordfish was not an ancient design. It was introduced in 1936 and was less than 5 years old at the time of Taranto. The British made some questionable decisions about naval aircraft operations in the interwar period.

[@magoshighlands4074]

@@Mrhalligan39 The swordfish was ancient in terms of technology, but when it was out into service it wasn't uncommon to still have biplane torpedo bombers

[@ma2mannelson932]

The quality of the animation is awesome. I feel like it is improving with ever single upload

[@cravenmoorehead5657]

Oh it is

[@sof5858]

100

[@Dayvit78]

Love the new look

[@biscuitninja]

100% has anyone done a Night Witches story?

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Glad you think so!

[@gregspencer7287]

Watching these videos about historic battles really puts things into perspective. Hearing about the biblical scale of these engagements… When someone mentions a “Squadron/USS/RAF/Unit…” it almost sounds like a toy, a simple machine of war. But when you realise the sheer scale of battle and the fact that literally thousands of men died in some of these battles, it’s legitimately harrowing. Bravo to you for bringing these details to light for so many. Genuinely humbling stuff.

[@gadgetgus]

Well said Greg 👍

[@barrydysert2974]

AGREED !:-)

[@LuigianoMariano]

The System is something beside, and not the same, as its elements.

[@conradallen9864]

“biblical” 🙄

[@user-hu7lw4le1k]

@@conradallen9864 it's tragically perfect in every way. I like the idea of 'biblical' warfare being of such insignificant magnitude spread over such a long period of time that there it is physically impossible include it alongside those things we kept ourselves busy with between the years 1900 and 2000

[@tomsemmens6275]

Equally astonishing to me is that having manouevered violently under heavy fire all the crews of these Swordfish, which lacked modern navigation equipment, then flew in the dark for over an hour and a half to find their ship, a speck in the ocean, and landed, just to make clear, in the dark. Astonishing skill and endurance.

[@uffa00001]

Embarked planes find ships because they are guided by radio signals emitted by the ships. They don't just look for them, it would be suicidal.

[@shawnc1016]

@@uffa00001 That doesn't always work either, even during the day.

[@mattpinky7125]

The swordfish defeated both the italian and Germany navy while being an obsolete biplane

[@PSL416]

Should make a book called “The Little Plane that Could”

[@holydemonlordoftwats315]

It's always the obsolete planes that play the most crucial roles.

[@JoeSkylynx]

@@holydemonlordoftwats315 Birddogs in Nam' come to mind.

[@untruelie2640]

If it's effective, then it isn't obsolete.

[@Wadser]

Missing context is the lack of Italian and German naval aviation. If the swordfish was in US or Japanese service it would get slaughtered.

[@MisterDings]

"The city was illuminated like that of a flaming onion" absolute poetry.

[@johnr797]

So many layers to that line

[@cerrystyle]

I didn't know about this epic battle nor someone told me about when I traveled to Taranto many years ago but from what I can get the story teller is absolutely true.

[@CSSVirginia]

Swordfish may have been slow. But, they were sturdy, relaibale and optimized for operating at night. The RN was the only navy that could operate carrier aircraft at night this early in the war.

[@dogsnads5634]

Truth be told the RN were the only Navy that mastered night fighting from carriers in the war. The USN eventually operated the Enterprise and Saratoga as dedicated night carriers late in the war, the rest of the fleet weren't equipped or trained for it, but the RN could operate all of its carriers at night from day one.

[@CSSVirginia]

@@dogsnads5634 Yes. During one of the later Pacific battles. (Phillapines sea I think). A USN strike group was late, had to land at night. Several planes ditched, Adm Mitcher had all the fleet turn it's lights on to help the planes get home. A huge risk with IJN subs about. While the RN was capable of night ops on day 1 of the war.

[@dogsnads5634]

@@CSSVirginia It wasn't several..it was over 80 aircraft...

[@CSSVirginia]

@@dogsnads5634 Dang, I had forgotten the number was that high.

[@dhardy6654]

The reason we like day time over night time is it let them come up to defend....and then we killed them. Nothing makes enemy morale worse then getting killed and bombed at at them same time. We destroyed the entire German air force this way, day light bombing.

[@morgan97475]

The animation appears to have improved from earlier episodes. I didn't think it possible. Great work & looking forward to more.

[@mpersad]

A strategic and tactical success of huge importance to the Allied forces. Excellent video and superb graphics as per usual! Thank you.

[@wilhelmpfusch3699]

And all with the swordfish. A, by technical data, completly outdated plane. Still it managed to turn Taranto into a huge mess and sunk the mighty Bismarck. Underestimated i guess.

[@ramal5708]

Huge importance for the IJN as well. "good idea, let's use similar tactics to attack Pearl Harbor"

[@thelvadam2884]

@@wilhelmpfusch3699 bro the swordfish didnt sunk bismarck it only damaged the rudder , and every battleship would lose her rudder with a lucky hit like that.

[@martinbrode7131]

@@wilhelmpfusch3699 Pfusch, the name says all. Sunk the Bismarck... 😂🤣😂

[@skykeg4978]

I always eagerly anticipate which story “The Operations Room” brings to life. Another outstanding tutorial that is of exceptional quality and detail. Can I suggest the raid on Polesti as a future video????

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@tempestfury8324]

I think you meant Ploesti.

[@popcornsniper]

@@tempestfury8324 I think he means Ploiești if he's talking about the romanian city packed with oil refineries.

[@tempestfury8324]

@@popcornsniper : I'm certain that's what he meant. What a disaster raid!😳

[@Aqueox]

@@popcornsniper I think he means Pole'estié if we're talking about Strangereal.

[@mechtaphloba_]

Finally, torpedoes that actually hit and detonate. In so many of your videos these torpedo attacks never seem to work. So many misses or malfunctioning torpedoes, it usually makes you wonder why they even try. This is why! :)

[@leogenilsenatore6527]

the ships were stationary

[@mechtaphloba_]

@@leogenilsenatore6527 That's fair, but I swear I've seen multiple videos here where even stationary targets are missed or hit without detonation

[@sof5858]

Loving these British Navy Battles recently. I love the fact an 'obsolete' Fairy Swordfish had so much success during WW2.

[@oceanhome2023]

Not even having enclosed cockpits !!!

[@michaeld.uchiha9084]

Slow and wood made it nearly impossible to shoot it down with modern AA.

[@timonsolus]

@@michaeld.uchiha9084 : Unless the flak hits the engine, fuel tank, or the pilot…

[@hendrikgreiner8449]

Just another piece of proof that even an old and antiquiated weapon can be quite deadly!

[@the_uglysteve6933]

The Russians had quite some success also with their older biplanes too

[@TheNilais]

Hi, Tarantinian guy here. First of all I must congratulate you for your amazing work of reconstruction, as an historian myself I was delighted. The Battle of Taranto is rarely talked here outside the military personel and the history enthusiasts. Again, thanks a lot.

[@ISAF_Ace]

Taranto a fascinating battle showing the superiority of aircraft in the new age of carrier warfare with a single carrier changing the balance of power in the Mediterranean. of course that power dynamic would shift again next year when battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth were sunk by human torpedoes, but for a time it kept us ahead in the Mediterranean. The quality of the video is astounding as well, good job to everyone running the Ops room

[@silverhost9782]

Sunk isn't quite right. Both survived and were repaired, continuing the war, thanks to their shallow moorings

[@generaladvance5812]

Erm? Don't you mean Repulse & Prince of Wales?

[@crayz4641]

General Advance definitely not, those were sunk by the Japanese off Malaya and Thailand by aircraft torpedoes, the Italians were the ones with human torpedoes that struck at Alexandria

[@generaladvance5812]

@@crayz4641 Oh, that's why I thought that. You said they were sunk, but that's not true. They survived the attacks.

[@ISAF_Ace]

@@generaladvance5812 They were sent to the bottom but recovered, so I suppose they did survive

[@mrpeterson17]

I picked up a copy of Lamb's "To War in a Stringbag" a couple of years ago and quite enjoyed it. He flew one of the flare planes in the first wave and describes a number of other adventures in the early years of the war.

[@pekkakoski6595]

These oproom videos are best on youtube. I thank you.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Glad you like them!

[@JugheadJones03]

Really impressive animations. Even the little details of having the pilots name and loadout listed. Thanks for posting. : )

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Glad you liked it!

[@DONALDSON51]

Agree with the other comments . The quality of the animation is constantly improving and is well matched to your superb narration

[@redpax499]

Superb narration. Its hard to find docs these days that aren’t injected with drama and suspense and all sorts of other garbage that tries to be a soap opera. The facts speak for themselves. This channel is my new favorite.

[@user-hu7lw4le1k]

The artist, through his masterful use of emotionless, dull monotone, the zoomed-out silence of 2D markers moving slowly across their 2D world and tabletop wargaming blow-by-blow battle report style, brings to life a raw and unapologetic statement challenging all viewers to look inward and understand the reason why the sublime, mechanized violence of mutual mass homicide makes for the most soothingly blissful of bedtime stories.

[@looinrims]

What a pseudo intellectual say that ‘the narrator brings the visuals to life’

[@jhendrix2845]

Yeah dude, I fall asleep to this guy all the time. Very soothing

[@Dbales34]

Envious of how well you articulate that

[@nemiw4429]

@@looinrims I'm the hoss agree or deny?

[@penultimateh766]

Seldom have so many adjectives been thrown in to bulk up what could have been fine prose.

[@ItsNotJustRice]

Having some sort of military simulation warfare game with these exact graphics would be just beautiful.

[@jerrymax4659]

Armored Brigade is similar.

[@desmond-hawkins]

There's a developer on KZbin named Sebastian Lague who's been working on a 3D game where you can fly a plane around the globe, with amazing graphics. He's been detailing his progress over the past few months and explaining how he's building it with a ton of technical details. It's not exactly the same style but similar enough that his project reminded me of The Operations Room, and it would be amazing if this channel could re-use his code once it's released.

[@ceruleancrow5884]

There's one on pc I can't remember the name of It's in the rts genre but is land battles only

[@tremendousbaguette9680]

5:39 contE di Cavour !!!

[@BatAtBat]

Such a great video - and not even 10000 views! What a shame! Spread this video!

[@BatAtBat]

Oh just saw that this video is just 1hr old... So 10.000 views in 1hr is actually great 👍

[@dxkaiyuan4177]

Germans: nooo must create wunderwaffe jet and rocket aircraft to defeat the allies! British: haha swordfish go brrrrr

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

Grats on the sponsorship. Your voice is sublime. We don't even need networks anymore now that there are channels like this. That's why I don't really miss the History Channel. The military historical content on YT nowadays contains a LOT more information than most of those old documentaries. People have a lot of nostalgia for those times, but this content blows it away. Like the printing press, the internet has created an information revolution. The way I see it, we are very lucky.

[@clamum9648]

Yeah there's a ton of great history content on KZbin. I had Curiosity Stream for a while but I actually didn't care for it much; it just didn't seem to have that much. I got Magellan a little while ago and I think it's much better.

[@virus5600]

So far, there are 2 instances of battle I know where these biplanes contributed more tham expected. First was this, and the second was the Battle of Bismarck, rendering the Bismarck unable to maneuver due to rudder jam. Their light frame and light materials help them survive the barrage of bullets where modern aircraft of that time would fall.

[@davidriadi7999]

There is also the battle of Cape Matapan, where Swordfish and Albacore force Vittorio Veneto to withdraw and crippled Pola, which later causes the destruction of 3 Italian Heavy Cruiser.

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

The Fairey Swordfish was the absolute GOAT of the Royal Navy. A true workhorse that was easy to repair and reliable as all hell!

[@leongarage199]

Thank you so much for showing this amazing story that too often is forgotten. I'm from Taranto and I live here and I can tell you that every year the Marina Militare find one or two bombs unexploded in "mar piccolo" (little sea) and bring them into the open sea to make them explode. I'm just sorry that not many people from Taranto know this beautiful piece of history!

[@billace90]

Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes from the HMS Ark Royal also attacked the Bismarck and one of the hits rendered the ships steering gear inoperable. They may have been obsolete but quite effective yet.

[@looinrims]

Any and every other plane would’ve been better, but yeah, in the absence of nothing of course the something is effective

[@BeaufighterGaming]

@@looinrims maybe not though, the swordfishs were so slow that the Bismarck couldn’t hit them

[@looinrims]

@@BeaufighterGaming yeah and the screaming weather was pretty unbearable for the pilots, the hit on Bismarck wasn’t easy precisely because of the plane, it’s not like good planes are easy to hit anyway

[@gimmethegepgun]

@@BeaufighterGaming Also, being mostly fabric and wood rather than metal, they often wouldn't trigger the contact fuses of antiaircraft projectiles and they'd just pass through inflicting minimal damage instead of exploding.

[@BeaufighterGaming]

@@looinrims Nah swordfish simply better

[@alexcefai7185]

Another outstanding video, and incredible animation work. I honestly always look forward to these videos, and one day will hope to use them to show my students for analysis. One thing that I would think would work well, a date/time section on the bottom corner, showing the changing time periods and/or scale or the battle/operation. I believe this might help. Just a subtle font on the bottom corner. So excited for the next video!

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for a great analysis of the raid! It was a great success and provided a blueprint for the future of naval warfare.

[@bobjenkins9208]

I really had hoped you were going to do this raid, and boy was i excited to see it! One of the most significant raids in history which changes the course of naval warfare forever, exposing the true vulnerability and fragility of a huge technical battleship, and setting the stage for the future of Aircraft Carrier warfare. After seeing this, im hungry to see the Prince of Wales, and the Repulse, and singapore itself. I can understand how much harder information from those battles would be though, and ti really is your attention to detail that makes your videos so wonderful. The final polish you put on them pays off. One of the guilty pleasures of mine today is to sit back with toast and coffee while i watch one of your new videos, thanks so much! Blessings to you all!

[@WildBillCox13]

I don't have a suitable reference handy, but is it possible the 40mm AA fire was from 37mm guns? Dunno if the Italians produced any AA cannon in 40mm caliber. Breda had a much appreciated 37mm, however. All the Italian cruisers I know of used it, I believe.

[@phoenixjz4782]

The Italians had, prior to the introduction of the Breda 37mm/54, made use of a license-built version of the WWI-era Vickers 40mm pom-pom, known as the Vickers-Terni 40/39. This was used on the heavy cruisers (as built) and was also installed on destroyers up until the mid-1930s (the Maestrale-class would be the last to receive it). However, during the course of refits in 1937 and 1938, these guns were removed from the heavy cruisers and replaced with 37/54's, and likewise most of the modern destroyers had their 40mm guns removed over the course of 1939 and 1940, and replaced with 20mm cannons or more 13.2mm machine guns. I suspect what happens here is that the video's creators are being overly reliant on British sources for their reconstruction of the attack, which explains some of the errors in this video. The '40mm cannon' thing, for example, probably reflects that the British weren't aware many of the ships had replaced their 40mm guns, so you will often see them erroneously reporting 40mm fire where it actually belongs to the 37mm, in early-war actions.

[@WildBillCox13]

@@phoenixjz4782 Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

Yes, I was confused (see comment below).TY.

[@andrewharvey2326]

I can’t wait to see this channel hit 1,000,000 subscribers. It’s gonna happen this year for sure.

[@expandedhistory]

I’m hoping it happens within the next couple of months. His channel inspired me to make my own history channel!

[@tng2057]

The Swordfishes are probably the most underrated unsung combat plane hero of WW2. Think Taranto and the sinking of Bismarck. You can only imagine how much more the British aircraft carriers could have achieved if the British had done a Zero / Type 97 / Type 99 before the war.

[@gurk_the_magnificent9008]

A truly navalized Spitfire Heh heh heh

[@Cailus3542]

The Swordfish also sank more Axis tonnage than any other single type of aircraft. Seriously.

[@maxkennedy8075]

@@Cailus3542 What about the SBD Dauntless? Swordfish is defo up there though. Even more impressive being a stringbag

[@maxkennedy8075]

We did Navalise the Spitfire

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

There was the Sea Fury and the Sea Fire

[@mac_attack_zach]

I love the little splash animation with the torpedoes. The quality of the animations just keeps getting better and better.

[@geordiedog1749]

Great job - again!!!

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up for support

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Much appreciated

[@oneshotme]

@@TheOperationsRoom You're welcome!!

[@theronealmadin1077]

This just really brings to show the phrase "Violence breeds Violence" and how warfare has evolved through out history.

[@PSL416]

But in the end it has to be this way

[@epicboy3051]

@@PSL416 but does it really?

[@ColinTherac117]

@@epicboy3051 Yes. Because in a world of pacifists, the one person who rejects pacifism rules the world.

[@camwarbeckbeck]

It's been mentioned a few times already, but the quality of the videos had seen a considerable and consistent increase, we'll done to you and thank you for your videos! They're a real treat to see when the notification pops up

[@benredden2524]

This is the only channel I have notifications turned on for

[@anthonywatson5158]

I did hear, that because the swordfish was so slow, that it was hard for the Italian AA to actually get accurate fire as they over shot the aircraft.

[@alexlyster3459]

Yeah, basically the AA guns were built to turn at rates that would help them track faster more modern aircraft.

[@michaeld.uchiha9084]

Bismarck had the same problem. And you could fly way lower with the Swordfish then with modern Torpedo Bomber.

[@tempestfury8324]

It wasn't the speed....they flew the Swordfish so low, skimming the water, that the AA guns weren't able to train on them. The guns were not fixed to shoot at so low of a level.

[@loganb7059]

12:37 _Lieutenant Clifford appears alone above the harbor_ Some Italian, probably: “I want… every gun we have to fire on that man.”

[@DaveTheCrowe]

Fantastic work. Thanks for this brilliant insight into the events.

[@scorched8198]

absolutely amazing video as always, keep up the good work man!

[@USBearForce]

YarnHub released a video on the hunt for the Bismarck a few hours ago, so it’s been a good day for the Fairey Swordfish.

[@col.autumn192]

Fantastic progress from this channel in both quality of animation and detail. Keep this up and you’ll be the next history channel!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Thanks, will do!

[@conanholmes8620]

Got my auntie T to thank for showing me this channel and YOU to thank for such great quilty videos!

[@string-bag]

Love the String Bag.

[@patrickbick2064]

Glad I'm early on this video, just wanted to say I really enjoy these you always do a fantastic job :) please never stop

[@12what34the]

It's off the wall good

[@OBJ317]

I missed ya brother man! Thanks for the content. As always naval ww2 and desert storm videos have a special place in my heart cause of family history! I found my great grandfathers ( he was a chief in the navy ) old naval papers from the 40s! It has the boats he served on and I even found a local newspaper interview of him when he was alive! Crazy how now we are Allied with them but I promise my great grandfather said he will never buy anything from them! He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and was at the battle of midway. I wish I was old enough to pick his brain but these videos just show me things he went through. I feel like he’s alive again and I’ve watched your Pearl and midway video thousands of times. I show my grandmother the Pearl video and say look! That’s where pop was. I was also stationed at Pearl as I’m a submariner but I just wanna let you know, your videos do more then just inform. Got me personally, it’s a way I can feel connected with my great grandfather. I know how the battle goes like the back of my hand now but I’ll watch your video again and again. Screaming go pop! Go get ‘em! Thank you operations room. Thank you.

[@barnaclebob1182]

This channel is great and I always enjoy his videos, but given your comment if you're looking for a really deep dive into pearl harbor the excellent youtube channel "World War Two" did a 10 part minute by minute coverage of Pearl Harbor that you might be interested in. It's really good, and has quotes from both japanese pilots and americans on the ground. you can find the first part here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKDLY3WOhdiljtU

[@OBJ317]

@@barnaclebob1182 seen it Atleast 5x, anything related to Pearl that’s on KZbin I’ve watched! Great great watch.

[@humbertogaggero2904]

simply fantastic as usual your animation, narration and research of all Operation Room episodes. Well Done, I do not miss any of your histories. Greetings from Chile

[@prestontucker6171]

I love this channel and these videos. One of my favorite subscriptions! Great job on the torpedo and AA fire animations! The quality of your videos is superb!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Glad you like them!

[@AJ___USA]

I fuckn love this channel, I’m convinced that you must have been commissioned as an officer in the military, either that or your just really fuckn good at your job

[@Joze1090]

Oh man, I just love your videos :) you're an inspiration to all history buffs world wide :D

[@michaelmiller1877]

I wanna see that second part of La Drang so bad, keep up the good work!

[@michaelboyko5024]

The story and the video are both model quality! Thanks a lot for the great work!

[@ugocomollo2816]

I do love your clips 🙂👍🏻 (Giusto per informazione, it's Táranto, not Taránto 😉)

[@jamesscalzo3033]

Loved the video @The Operations Room! Can't wait for the next video guys! I've been meaning to try and play this battle in Axis & Allies: War at Sea for a while now and I'm glad you guys finally covered it. This event would actually start the Regia Marina D'Italia on considering the Idea of having Aircraft Carriers of their own and it was the Battle of Cape Matapan (Punta Stilo) a few years later that Italy would be "Completely Sold" on the idea as thing had now made the Idea of Italian Aircraft Carriers more of a Necessity. However, but that time, Italy had effectively lost the war and the work on their first Aircraft Carrier, The Aquila (Eagle) which was converted from the Passenger Liner Roma, had come To little To Late. Aquila would effectively be Seized by Nazi Germany after the Armistice and somewhat unsuccessfully targeted by Southern Italian Frogmen in trying to deny the Germans to opportunity to complete and use her, instead she became The Mediterraniean's Answer to the Tirpitz in Norway and became a mere blockship for the Germans.

[@farmerdave7965]

The Operations Room has the best animation. Carry on !

[@prabhdeep__]

An incredible video bringing to life the story of an incredible battle. Seriously good job with this one! :D

[@timalexander7758]

Glad to see you back!

[@tomtom21194]

Great video, I had no idea about this raid. Very successful and jolly british listening to opera and tying boots to the bombs for funzies

[@carter2671]

Super interesting piece of history I had never heard! Thanks for the video!

[@PCTechHub]

Really well animated and covered as ever 👌🏽

[@nathanc5778]

I have a hard time calling a weapon that was so effective 'obsolete'. Taranto was a great example of old-school British daring.

[@adeptavatar9394]

It sure would be frustrating though to fly all that way, fly into enemy fire, just to then miss with your torpedo. The ships weren't even moving. I would have damn sure lined my shot up right in the middle.

[@101jir]

Maybe I misheard, but I thought they said the Fleet in Being doctrine was obsolete?

[@ieuanhunt552]

Obsolete does not mean useless. It just means that there is something more effective out there.

[@nathanc5778]

@@ieuanhunt552 What better carrier-borne torpedo bomber was there between 1939-41? Maybe the B5N Kate?

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

I believe that the U.S. Navy successfully attacked Pear Harbor in an exercise in the 1920s. Could you possibly cover that exercise in a video at some future point?

[@wolfgangkranek376]

youtube: The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

So what you're saying is, is that Pearl Harbour was an inside job? Jet fuel can't melt steel battleships.

[@thomaszinser8714]

Yes, that was during one of the various Fleet Problems, I forget precisely which one. Honestly, most of the Fleet Problem exercises would be fascinating to see videos of, from Operations Room or Drach, really.

[@brudnick39]

In 1932, Rear Admiral Harry Yarnell used the carriers Lexington and Saratoga to "attack" Pearl Harbor in during a war game. He was able to launch about 150 planes and took Pearl completely by surprise..."sinking" the entire fleet in the harbor. The Japanese used some of the same approach routes for their flights on the 7th of December 1941. Then, in 1938, Admiral Ernest King used Saratoga to attack Pearl again...and once again the defenders were taken totally by surprise.

[@gidmichigan1765]

Pearl Harbor? Attacked in 1920? Is this a reference to something or are you actually serious?

[@yenmeng]

Great way to start the weekend, thanks OR!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Enjoy!

[@ryanbender7005]

You've really evolved the animation - this looks so detailed and clear.

[@YARROWS9]

People forget that the Royal Navy were fighting the Vichy French, German and Italian Navies during the early years of the war.

[@danieleziaco7092]

Wasn't Vichy neutral?, as far as I remember the only times the British and Vichy clashed were when the ally attacks them

[@1nv15BL3]

Well, the Italian navy fought against the British, Australian, German, American, Soviet and New Zealand's navy, actually, the Italian navy even fought itself, so that's not really an impressive feat.

[@d.olivergutierrez8690]

Douglas TBD Devastator: “what makes you so damn special” Swordfish: “wood and vintage son, they let the bullets pass in respond to physicall trauma”

[@terryhughes7349]

I always learn something new watching your presentations. Good Job!

[@ashaide]

Well, the IJN always looked towards the Royal Navy as its template. Cunningham really needs more attention.

[@franksposato6072]

Will you ever be able to cover the November 5th Carrier attack on Rabul? That is a story that needs much more attention and may have been the most important tactical strike of the war. These videos are always getting better!

[@stevemorris289]

Another brilliantly told story with excellent animation.

[@majormelon7898]

Another quality video brilliant work

[@RickLowrance]

Amazing how much those Swordfish bi-planes impacted the war.

[@phoenixjz4782]

It should be noted that Conte di Cavour was only torpedoed once. There was no second hit as suggested by the video.

[@SirJamesSomerville99]

You're wrong... "The torpedo ran past the battleship, but went on to strike the already damaged Conti di Cavour,"

[@phoenixjz4782]

@@SirJamesSomerville99 I don't believe I am, but if you happen to know of any credible sources that actually support the claim of a second hit with evidence, I'd be curious to hear it. The damage to the ship very clearly indicates a single hit.

[@SirJamesSomerville99]

@@phoenixjz4782 various works not that E5H scored the second torpedo hit on the Conte Di Cavour. "They passed between the destroyers Lampo and Belena, and saw the explosion caused by Williamson and Savage’s torpedo hit on Conti di Cavour ahead and to their right." "when E5H emerged over the Mar Grande near the small dockyard there, Wellham found he had a rich choice of targets. Four battleships lay within reach of his torpedo. He circled around, flying within 30 feet of the water, and selected the Vittorio Veneto. Wellham and Humphreys launched their torpedo 500 yards from the battleship, then banked sharply to make their escape. The torpedo ran past the battleship, but went on to strike the already damaged Conti di Cavour, which lay" Wragg, David, Stringbag: The Fairey Swordfish at War (Barnsley, 2004) Pen & Sword Wragg, David, Swordfish: the Story of the Taranto Raid (London, 2003) Weidenfeld & Nicolson Lamb, Charles, To War in a Stringbag (London, 1980) Bantam Books Wellham, John, With Naval Wings: An Autobiography of a Fleet Air Arm Pilot in World War II (London, 2007) Spellmount Amongst others.

[@phoenixjz4782]

@@SirJamesSomerville99 Interesting, but this wasn't quite what I was looking for. These all seem to be taking pilot claims at face value, which is fine, up to a certain point, but it has to be noted that pilots tended to consistently claim more than they actually achieved throughout the war. Regardless of the claims of a second hit from pilots, no second hit was ever observed by Cavour, and likewise when she was recovered there was just the one breach she took from the hit in the first wave. There is fairly extensive documentation both from what happened that night, her recovery, and her repair, so this is not really in doubt.

[@cryptickaoz9494]

Love seeing this video. my great-grandfather served aboard the HMS Warspite during WW2 and his memoirs are amazing to read.

[@ZMikluscak]

As always, another phenomenal video. Keep them coming!!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Thanks! Will do!

[@KatarMilak]

I would love to see a video about the St Nazaire raid, Operation Chariot

[@eliahaj2233]

I am glad about the fact that you take care in including naval actions in your videos! I wonder if another modern naval engagement video is coming soon,I think the naval battle between the iranian and iraqi navies would be nice but anyways I am sure that future content well be outstanding as usual. I am happy to see the content of this channel continuing to improve,I hope for the best to come!

[@DeepSpaceIndustriesLOL]

I love how you show that they are carrying either torps or bombs that’s a great detail

[@NickHannula]

Great job again. I would love to see you do a video on the 1981 H3 airstrike

[@Guntank214]

Your content continues to be amazing. Would love to see you do some US Civil War stuff sometime.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Like a classic rebel hit and run.

[@bernardmcmahon351]

Excellent presentation, thanks

[@rickharold7884]

Awesome description. Thx!

[@JumbalayahJihad]

You should do Operation Hailstone as a nice follow up to similar Pearl Harbor esq battles

[@historigraph]

Stringbags op please nerf

[@HouseholdDog]

It's amazing how an animation can explain so much.

[@stewartross1233]

Brilliant as usual. Graphics are wonderful, no need to visualise, it's all there in front of you!

[@Bootneck-RMC]

My Friday evening, just got a helluva lot better when this video popped up. Thank you Operations Room. 👍

[@jeesmith99]

Another great video! Thanks.

[@itsjermy]

enjoying the improved quality of the video

[@clamum9648]

What's up with you Brits and making awesome history content? You guys, Kings & Generals, Historigraph, Baz Battles, Lindybeige, Simon Whistler, etc. Keep it up bois

[@expandedhistory]

The Brits just really know how to make good history videos! While us Americans are trying like myself lol.

[@clamum9648]

@@expandedhistory Well I'll give you another sub homie

[@federicoperi6806]

Amazing video (as always)! Just a quick heads up: in Italian the "gia" (of reGIA) is pronounced "jia" - like a J! Hope this quick Italian lesson helps you out for future videos!

[@uffa00001]

Yes, and ContE di Cavour is written with the e. Anyway, a nice video.

[@edvfya9922]

Nice! I'm happy to see you improve your already great animation skills, you aren't resting on your laurels.

[@jaidenfishbein5454]

New operations room video just made my day

[@dannymaxx510]

Never been this early before!