![]() The first wave of 12 aircraft arrived just before 11:00 p.m. With Eagle out, the strike force was reduced to 21 Swordfish, five of which were transferred from Eagle. The attack was rescheduled for November 11, with the British force sailing from Alexandria on November 6. The attack A Swordfish bomber of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm over unidentified seas in May 1941. Eagle’s fuel system also suffered failures that prevented it from joining the attack. The attack was scheduled for October 21 but was delayed by a fire aboard Illustrious. This would be the first time enemy ships were attacked in port by torpedo bombers, which was considered impossible due to a port’s shallow waters and the hundreds of machine and anti-aircraft guns that were usually present. Some also carried flares to light the area for other pilots. ![]() The Swordfish were modified with an additional fuel tank, which took the place of one of the three crew members. Japanese officials decided on a surprise attack on US Navy ships at Pearl Harbor, knocking them out and buying time for to achieve their other objectives. Japan needed to ensure the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet could not interfere. Isoroku Yamamoto, knew this expansion was only possible if Western countries, particularly the US, were unable to resist. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.īy early spring 1941, Japanese military strategists were hard at work planning their blitz into Southeast Asia.The success of the raid at Taranto allowed the British to dominate the Mediterranean and gave the Japanese an idea for a similar attack on the US a year later.To neutralize that threat, the British navy mounted a daring aerial attack on the Italian ships while they sat in port.In fall 1940, the British faced a dire situation in the Mediterranean, where Italy’s large fleet posed an acute threat.Italian navy ships in Taranto Harbor, June 18, 1936.
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