An abandoned Taranto plan gave early rockets a supporting role in the first wave. If HMS Eagle had participated, Illustrious might have carried more fighters, with about six proposed to accompany the attack. The rockets were expected to create flashes and noise that distracted Italian defenders while the Swordfish approached with torpedoes. Their planned value was psychological and tactical, since the primitive weapons were unlikely to cause decisive damage themselves.
Notable Point · 26:43-28:33
The abandoned rocket distraction for Taranto
An early Taranto plan would have sent carrier fighters firing primitive rockets as a psychological distraction while Swordfish delivered the main torpedo attack.