Cunningham's account introduces the departure of Rear Admiral Lister's force from HMS Illustrious and the importance attached to the raid. The intended force was two waves of twelve aircraft about an hour apart, although oil damage reduced the second wave. Flare-droppers would light the harbour and distract the defenders while other attacks drew attention from the torpedo aircraft approaching from the south-west. The design was an integrated night operation, not simply a collection of isolated torpedo attacks.
Chapter · 2:08-3:36
Operation Judgment's two-wave plan
The Taranto strike was planned as two aircraft waves, using flares, bombs, dive-bombers, and torpedo aircraft for separate but connected jobs.