The battle of cape matapan a story from the cruiser pola. Reproduced in full in dark seas, this is a detailed and thoughtful insight into one of the last fleet. The consequences of the battle if matapan can be called that were heavy in terms of losses, but heavier still in psychological terms. Cape matapan is the southernmost point of mainland greece, and the second southernmost point in mainland europe.
Alternatingly, each player turns over one of his and one of his opponents cards. The consensus is that, as a result of the discussions held during the conference, the gaudo and matapan operation was conceived to placate the germans pressing demands. World war ii merchant ship movement records for australia. The battle of cape matapan occurred off the coast of italy between 27 and 29 march 1941, involving british, australian and italian naval forces. Almost all authors who wrote about matapan gave quite a bit of attention to the merano conference. The battle of cape matapan march 2729, 1941 mediterranean fury. Ran at the battle of cape matapan on this day perth, stuart and vendetta were all engaged in the royal navys night battle when they engaged the italian battle fleet. Admiral cunningham, in every signal, had referred to it as matapan, and so the admiralty, days later, announced that the battle was officially to be known as the battle of cape matapan. After the first battle of the sirte, the corazziere collided with the granatiere, another destroyer of the same class.
The game design is and highly playable, yet one that portrays the historical challenges facing the combatants. Feb 23, 2018 this paper deals with the new propaganda image represented in the portrait of john v of portugal and the battle of matapan, attributed to giorgio domenico dupra, a commemorative work of art which referenced the battle of cape matapan. The author clearly places both navies in their contemporary contexts, and explains what they hoped and intended to achieve. It will also describe how the australian involvement at the battle of cape matapan relates to the way the ran operates contemporarily. Wwii era royal navy british fleet fairey swordfish silent film 28344. The deteriorating military situation in africa and greece in 1941, however, made it clear that some offensive response by the regia marina was necessary if these theaters were to remain viable for the axis powers. He again commanded the italian battle fleet in the battle of cape matapan 2629 march 1941, which resulted in the biggest defeat ever suffered by the regia marina. The shadow of matapan would forever haunt iachino individually and the regia marina as a whole. Photographed in the ionian sea at the time of the battle of cape matapan, british warships are seen from the air. The battle of cape matapan 27th29th march 1941 from. Lately ive spent some time translating a short memoir of a survivor of the italian heavy cruiser pola, sunk in 1941 during the battle of cape matapan. Battle of cape matapan the battle of cape matapan greek. Jan 16, 2016 battle of cape matapan the battle of cape matapan greek. It was from this aircraft that flight lieutenant a lywood, reported the italian fleet movements leading to the battle of cape matapan, while flying out of scaramanga on 2728 march 1941.
The battle of cape matapan britannia naval histories of world war ii kindle edition by harrold je. He then slowly dissects the battle in handy blocks of time including a section on the taranto raid which sets much of the tone. On july 19, at the battle of cape spada, the australian cruiser hmas sydney, along with five. Matapan is a card game simulating the battle of cape matapan, which took place in march 1941 between italian regia marina and english royal navy. Here is a memento to the ships and people that were lost in the battle of cape matapan. Ops before the final assault, the air crews taking part were shown the battle area and individual objectives of the battle by majorgeneral.
By clive sharplin associate member the sea fight of the second world war known as the battle of matapan was actually the second of that name to occur in naval history. The trafalgar of the mediterranean, mark simmons explores the remarkable victories of taranto and matapan, as seen through the eyes of the men who manned the ships and flew the aircraft of the mediterranean fleet. The naval battle of matapan took place on 19 july 1717 off the cape matapan, on the coast of the mani peninsula in southern greece, between the armada grossa of the republic of venice, supported by a mixed squadron of allied ships from portugal, the papal states and malta, and the ottoman fleet, under kapudan pasha egribozlu ibrahim pasha. Dark seas by je harrold overdrive rakuten overdrive. In march 1941, a major naval battle, the battle of cape matapan, occurred off the coast of cape matapan, between the royal navy and the italian regia marina, in which the british emerged victorious in a onesided encounter. The battle of matapan took place o the western coast of crete on 29th march 1941 and involved the australian ships hmas perth and hmas stuart. Description of the encounter in 1941 between the royal navy and the. Stations manned and ready 2nd edition battle of cape. Under the command of vice admiral pridhamwippell, the cruisers hmas perth, hms orion, hms aajax, and hms gloucester, then patrolling in the aegean sea, was ordered to a point off gavdos island south of crete to protect troop convoys bound for greece. In one action the rn and ran exploded mussolinnis boast that the mediterranean was the italian navys mare nostrum meaning our sea. Cape matapan archives naval historical society of australia. Next options are the battle of cape matapan and the battle of merselkebir.
May 21, 2016 here is a memento to the ships and people that were lost in the battle of cape matapan. She was damaged during the battle of crete the following month, but participated in the syrialebanon campaign in june. Pack and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As today is the anniversary of this battle, i thought it could be interesting to share it here. British battleships of wwii the book describes a brief account of the battle of cape matapan. Opening rounds battle of midway battle for guadalcanal battle of north cape. The battle summary, written post war, draws on reports of action on both sides. The eldest was the heroic hms warsipte commissioned in 1915 and a veteran of the battle of jutland and numerous actions during the second world war including the slaughter of the german destroyers at narvik, the battle of cape matapan and the invasion of sicily and italy. Battle of cape matapan news, views, gossip, pictures, video. John v of portugal in the battle of matapan domenico dupra.
The name which has been bestowed on the battle by the. But for a more impartial judgment, the second battle of the sirte should have been analysed. This is a very interesting revisiting of the battle of cape matapan. The record that follows is an extract from my fathers diary, chief petty officer watkins, and is his own personal interpretation of the battle and his feelings whilst on board the famous australian destroyer hmas stuart during the battle of matapan. The naval battle of matapan took place on 19 july 1717 off the cape matapan, on the coast of. Raf, south african air force and rhodesian air force were all involved in the battle for keren, eritrea. The battle summary is a full account and draws on the action from both sides. The most decisive engagement between surface ships in the mediterranean during world war ii was undoubtedly the battle of cape matapan 27 29 march. Jan 12, 2011 the navy lost a number of opportunities during the early part of the war to deal heavy blows on british naval forces but were dealt significant defeats at the battle of cape matapan and the british naval air strike on the major italian naval base at taranto, an action which helped inspire the imperial japanese navy to attack pearl harbor. Find the link in your emailed receipt after purchase. You will receive confirmation and invoice to pay upon us receiving your order. This publication will be delivered via pdf download. Battle of tsushima battles of coronel and the falkland islands battle of dogger banks battle of jutland battle of river plate battle with the bismark battle of cape matapan battle of the south china sea battle for the pacific.
The most decisive engagement between surface ships in the mediterranean during world war ii was undoubtedly the battle of cape matapan 2729 march, 1941. Matapan article about matapan by the free dictionary. In the battle the british lost three airmen the crew of one torpedo bomber, while the italians lost three heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers and over 2,400 dead. Apr 16, 2012 world war 2 prince philip breaks his 70year silence on how he helped sink italian ships in dramatic naval battle philip, 90, has described his part in the battle of cape matapan where british. The cape is on the southwest coast of greeces peloponnesian peninsula. A copy of stations manned and ready, 2nd edition, is required to use this product. Bruce yearian two, 11 x 17 maps 420 singlesided unit counters one, 6page rule book. This set provides the necessary ship data sheets to fight the above battle.
The allied force was the british mediterranean fleet, consisting of the aircraft carrier hms formidable and the battleships hms barham, valiant and warspite. Mar 16, 2015 at 0812 on 28 march 1941, off the southeast coast of greece, ships of the italian regia marina 3rd cruiser division opened fire upon hms gloucester at a distance of 24,000 yards, marking the beginning of the battle of cape matapan. At 0812 on 28 march 1941, off the southeast coast of greece, ships of the italian regia marina 3rd cruiser division opened fire upon hms. The cape is on the southwest coast of the peloponnesian peninsula of greece. Cunningham decided once and for all who would be master of the mediterranean. Curiously enough news of the fight, flashed all over the world, referred to it as the lonian sea battle. From the perspective of the ran, the essay will then look at the significance of the battle, what lessons were learned, and how they can be applied.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The minecraft project, battle of matapan, was posted by endooo. During the march 28, 1941, battle of cape matapan, british admiral andrew b. Select the games you wish to purchase and then complete the customer information section on page 2 to place your order. The most decisive engagement between surface ships in the mediterranean during world war ii was undoubtedly the battle of cape matapan 27 29 march, 1941. Wwii merchant ship movement records australia royal. Battle of cape matapan, 2729 march 1941 posted on june, 2017 by msw prior to the battle of matapan, the warspite picks up her swordfish floatplane on the run. Stations manned and ready 2nd edition battle of cape matapan. Orders of battle battle of cape matapan battles of the. Royal australian navy gun plot hmas stuart ww2 battle of. Media in category battle of cape matapan the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Thus the battle of cape matapan was a decisive victory for the royal navy and gave it control of the eastern mediterranean until the fall of crete in june.
It separates the messenian gulf in the west from the laconian gulf in the east. Cape taenarum in classical antiquity was the site of the city of taenarum, ancient greek. Corazziere soldati i serie class or camicia nera class. It was from this aircraft that flight lieutenant a lywood, reported the italian fleet movements leading to the battle of cape matapan, while flying out. Prior to the battle of matapan, the warspite picks up her swordfish floatplane on the run. Mediterranean fury the battle of cape matapan march 2729, 1941 game. In 1941 it took part to the battle of cape matapan and to the first battle of the sirte. A force of british royal navy ships accompanied by several royal australian navy ships, under command of british admiral andrew cunningham, intercepted and sank or severely. This is an updated version of the original publication that we sent out to our original kickstarter participants. East african campaign battle of cape matapan siege of tobruk greece campaign iraq and habbaniya operation brevity battle for crete hms hood sunk by bismarck bismarck sunk syrian campaign.
The atlantic and mediterranean battle synopses is an original publication created by west point graduate and tsm partner john czarzasty. The battle of cape matapan was a second world war naval engagement between british and axis forces, fought from 2729 march 1941. Wwii era royal navy british fleet fairey swordfish silent. It was to be the last engagement of the 20th century involving a combined british force larger than a squadron simmons, 2011. The victory achieved by the portuguese navy with an allied christian force over the ottoman empire in the. Introduction if one looks at the battle of matapan as part of a broad canvas, it may be likened to the central segment of a triptych, the complementary parts of this picture are. A scenario set for the battle of cape matapan, 28th march 1941. The battle of cape matapan naval historical society of australia.
Battle of cape matapan, 2729 march 1941 weapons and warfare. The 75th anniversary hms ajax and the battle of cape matapan. Night action of the battle of cape matapan naval history. The battle of matapan 1941 by mark simmons overdrive. The victory achieved by the portuguese navy with an allied christian force over the ottoman empire in the aegean sea, in june 1717, was directly related to the. The battle of cape matapan was a second world war naval engagement between british. The battle of cape matapan naval historical society of. Both ships had some casualties and lost their bows. The ship took part in the battle of cape spada in july 1940, the battle of cape matapan in march 1941 and the evacuation of greece in april 1941.
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