Admiral Cunningham shared Pound's expectation that a night strike could cost aircraft and crews, but he judged those losses acceptable at this stage of the war. His decision differed from Pound's earlier refusal to risk Glorious's specialist air group. Cunningham was encouraged by Ark Royal's recent six-Swordfish attack on the battleship Dunkerque in Oran harbour, where the aircraft negotiated mud banks and achieved useful hits. Recent combat evidence had turned a dangerous harbour attack from an interwar study into a practical operational choice.
Notable Point · 56:18-57:17
Cunningham accepts the risk after Ark Royal attacks Dunkerque
Ark Royal's recent Swordfish attack on Dunkerque helped convince Cunningham that a costly Taranto strike could still be operationally necessary.