Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:03:25-1:04:22

A carrier raid on the High Seas Fleet

A successful First World War carrier raid would establish a precedent for harbor attack without preventing later planners from believing newer defenses had solved the problem.

High Seas FleetNaval AviationPearl HarborTarantoWorld War I
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Question

Would a Royal Navy air attack on the High Seas Fleet prevent Taranto or Pearl Harbor?

Short answer

No; it would make the danger visible, but later navies would believe improved defenses had answered it.

Notes

Taranto and Pearl Harbor remain plausible even after a successful British carrier attack in World War I. Ten hits from a hundred aircraft could be dismissed as a disappointing success rate despite the damage inflicted. Later navies could point to radar and stronger anti-aircraft weapons as reasons that their situation was different. A precedent would expose the danger without necessarily overcoming confidence in newer defences.