The harbour plan shows the Italian battleships spread across Taranto, with Giulio Cesare unusually well protected. Conte di Cavour, Littorio, and Caio Duilio remained comparatively exposed, while Vittorio Veneto and Andrea Doria had vulnerabilities of their own. Taranto was the Regia Marina's principal base for covering the eastern Mediterranean. Concentrating the fleet there supported Italian operations across the theatre, yet it also placed several capital ships within reach of one carrier strike. The layout explains why damage to part of the force could have consequences beyond the ships actually hit.
Chapter · 5:50-6:43
A fleet concentrated in an exposed anchorage
A reconstruction of the attack route and anchorage layout shows why several Italian capital ships were vulnerable at their principal eastern Mediterranean base.