Two 824 Squadron Swordfish transferred from the damaged HMS Eagle to HMS Illustrious for the Taranto attack, showing how timing, weather, and available aircraft shaped the strike package. Eagle and the squadron soon returned to operations against Tripoli and Italian destroyers, two of which were sunk while two more were driven ashore. The carrier then searched the South Atlantic in case Bismarck escaped south. During that work, 824 aircraft bombed the German U-boat supply ship Elbe and compelled the tanker Lothringen to surrender. The sequence demonstrates how carrier aviation could attack an enemy's logistics and trade support as well as its battle fleet.
Chapter · 22:10-28:13
824 Squadron's Swordfish flew from Taranto to Atlantic trade warfare
Swordfish from HMS Eagle reinforced the Taranto strike before 824 Squadron attacked ports, destroyers, a U-boat supply ship, and a German tanker across wider operations.