Six battleships, numerous cruisers, and thirteen destroyers created an exceptional concentration inside Taranto. The Royal Navy rarely offered an equivalent harbour target because its global war dispersed ships among several theatres and bases. British forces concentrated temporarily for operations and then separated again rather than leaving an entire battle fleet together. Italy's attempt to pressure British movements connected with the invasion of Greece therefore produced the dense target the carrier strike needed.
Chapter · 1:12:23-1:13:44
Why the concentrated Italian fleet made Taranto possible
Taranto offered an unusually valuable target because Italian battleships, cruisers, and destroyers were concentrated in one harbour.