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DARK SEAS
The Battle of Cape Matapan
Britannia Naval Histories of World War II
Contents
Foreword HRH Prince Philip, Lord High Admiral
Introduction Dr J. E. Harrold
Abbreviations
General Situation, March 1941
The Naval Situation, March 1941
The Commander-in-Chief’s Plans
The Italian Fleet
Enemy Forces at Sea
British Fleet Movements
Commencement of Action
The C.-in-C.’s Movements, 28 March
HMS Formidable’s First Striking Force Takes Off
Action with the Italian Battleship
The First Attack on the Vittorio Veneto
Attack by Maleme Striking Force on the 3rd Division
Movements of the British Battle Fleet (Force A)
The Formidable’s Second Striking Force Awaits Orders
Position at 1330
R A F Bombers from Greece
The Pursuit 1330 - 1810
The Situation at 1915, 28 March
Third Torpedo Attack on the Vittorio Veneto
Movements of the British Battle Fleet
VALF and the Cruisers of Force B
Destroyer Striking Force
British Fleet Night Action
The Destroyers with HMAS Stuart
The Sinking of the Zara and Pola
Proceedings of Battle Fleet
Force D and Greek Destroyers
Italian Fleet
Events after 1500 on 28 March
The Return to Alexandria
The Commander-in-Chief’s Comments
A Few Reflections
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Appendix I
Appendix J
Appendix K
Endnotes
HRH Prince Philip
Dr J. E. Harrold
Britannia Naval Histories of World War II
Bismarck: The Chase and Sinking of Hitler’s Goliath
Fight for the Fjord: The Battle for Norway 1940
Hitler’s Ghost Ships: Graf Spee, Scharnhorst and Disguised German Raiders
Between Hostile Shores: Mediterranean Convoys 1941-1942
Turning the Tide: The Battles of Coral Sea and Midway
Hunting Tirpitz: Naval Operations Against Bismarck’s Sister Ship
This ebook edition first published in the United Kingdom in 2012 by University of Plymouth Press, Portland Square, B322, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
Paperback ISBN 978-1-84102 -304-5
Hardback ISBN 978-1-84102-303-8
eBook ISBN 978-1-84102-379-3
© University of Plymouth Press 2014
The rights of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Crown Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library.
Publisher: Paul Honeywill
Series Editors: G. H. Bennett, J. E. Harrold, M. J. Pearce and R. Porter
Commissioning Editor: Charlotte Carey
Publishing Assistant: Maxine Aylett
All rights reserved. Any person who carries out any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Historical content courtesy of Britannia Museum, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, TQ6 0HJ.
Cover image © Edward Stables 2012
Distributed by NBN International, UK
The historical documents reproduced here appear as unedited text, apart from minor changes made to date formats and corrections to typing errors found in the original.
Britannia Royal Naval College
A majestic landmark, which towers above the harbour town of Dartmouth in Devon, Britannia Royal Naval College was designed by royal architect Sir Aston Webb to project an image of British sea power. A fine example of Edwardian architecture, the College has prepared future generations of officers for the challenges of service and leadership since 1905.
The Britannia Museum opened in 1999 to safeguard
