Crowded moorings restrict fire at low Swordfish

The Italian ships' scattered positions and different mooring bearings created several opportunities for defensive fire to hit friendly vessels. A comparison with Pearl Harbor's Battleship Row shows how the outer ships there had a clearer field of fire against approaching torpedo aircraft. At Taranto, Swordfish crews saw shells pass toward the town and merchant ships before the guns stopped. Italian crews quickly recognized the danger, although lighter weapons faced the same problem within the harbour's confined space. The Swordfish could remain in a relative safe zone near the water, then become exposed to concentrated fire if they climbed enough to clear neighbouring ships.