Battle of cape matapan, 2729 march 1941 weapons and warfare. Media in category battle of cape matapan the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Naval battles of the twentieth century internet archive. Alternatingly, each player turns over one of his and one of his opponents cards. The naval battle was fought in the mediterranean between the italian and british forces. During the march 28, 1941, battle of cape matapan, british admiral andrew b.
Battle of cape matapan ww2 the battle of cape matapan was a battle fought from march 27 march 29, 1941 during world war ii off the peloponnesus coast in the mediterranean. Cape promontory of the s peloponnesus, greece meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples. 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. The battle of cape matapan naval historical society of australia. Understandably, the first authors to write about the subject focused mostly on the more proximate causes of the defeat. It was called mare nostrum our sea by benito mussolini and his fascist stalwarts, but the italian navy, or regia marina, still understood it was an open question as to who would rule the mediterranean in 1941. The cape is on the southwest coast of the peloponnesian peninsula of greece. British and italian navies, admiral ab cunningham, vice admiral pridhamwippwell. The author clearly places both navies in their contemporary contexts, and explains what they hoped and intended to achieve. Royal australian navy gun plot hmas stuart ww2 battle of. Hms matapan d43 was a later or 1943 battleclass fleet destroyer of the royal navy rn. Various cus of 15 inch shells as they are loaded aboard the ship.
Battle of cape matapan march 28 1941 world war ii greece. She was named after the battle of cape matapan between the royal navy and the regia marina, which ended in a decisive victory for the rn force, resulting in the destruction of three cruisers and two destroyers of the italian navy and was a heavy blow to the italians. The allied force was the british mediterranean fleet, consisting of the aircraft carrier hms formidable and the battleships hms barham, valiant and warspite. This article is within the scope of wikiproject greece, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of greece on wikipedia. This is a very interesting revisiting of the battle of cape matapan. Pdf italian battleships of world war ii download full. The battle of cape matapan was a second world war naval engagement between british imperial and axis forces, fought from 2729 march 1941. Prince philip breaks his 70year silence on how he helped sink italian ships in dramatic naval battle.
It brought to an end six months of remarkable success for the royal navy in the mediterranean. In world war ii the british won an important naval battle 1941 over the italians off cape matapan. Various shots of italian prisoners of war mostly sailors in enclosure on. Matapan, cape article about matapan, cape by the free. The game design is and highly playable, yet one that portrays the historical challenges facing the combatants. Here is a memento to the ships and people that were lost in the battle of cape matapan. This gives dark seas detailed and thoughtful insight into one of the last fleet engagements in naval history and contains a previously unpublished unique firsthand account of the battle. Cape taenarum in classical antiquity was the site of the city of taenarum, ancient greek. 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. Various lss of hms warspite from dinghy approaching the ship.
Now available for order from high flying dice games is mediterranean fury. 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. The battle of cape matapan a story from the cruiser pola. The main fleet was accompanied by two flotillas of destroy. The game is for two players and simulates the 1941 battle which saw the forces of the british royal navy take on those of the italian regia marina. The cape is on the southwest coast of greeces peloponnesian peninsula. The battle of cape matapan and those who dig naval wargames like myself should take notice. The cabinet papers battle of cape matapan, east africa and greece.
The battle of cape matapan march 2729, 1941 mediterranean fury. Packed with fullcolour artwork, carefully selected archive photographs and expert analysis, this title explores in detail the. Pack and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Successful results for british at battle of cape matapan aka akra tainaron, greece. 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. In the fighting, the british lost 3 killed, while the italians lost 3 heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers, and over 2,400 dead. Various shots of italian prisoners of war mostly sailors in enclosure on desert. High flying dice games fires a salvo with mediterranean fury.
Cape matapan is the southernmost point of mainland greece, and the second southernmost point in mainland europe. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Iachino was born in sanremo, liguria, in 1889, the son of giuseppe iachino, a middle school teacher, and emilia piccione. Giuseppe anzevino, a gunner, was one of the 1,041 men aboard pola. Stations manned and ready 2nd edition battle of cape. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The minecraft project, battle of matapan, was posted by endooo. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the battle of cape matapan article.
The narrative is nicely supported by lots of period photographs, modern illustrations and battle diagrams, and technical data. Jan 16, 2016 battle of cape matapan the battle of cape matapan greek. Matapan must be reexamined in this light, because the factors listed in the preceding paragraphs, without directly influencing its outcome, prepared the way for it. 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 battle of cape matapan is a wargame simulation on the naval action that occurred near crete during world war ii. In march 1941, the royal navy scored one of the greatest onesided victories against the italian fleet the regia marina at matapan. World war ii european theater battle of cape matapan. 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. The queen elizabeth class battleship mounted eight 15 guns in twin. This set provides the necessary ship data sheets to fight the above battle. Battle of cape matapan the battle of cape matapan greek. Well recommended for the authors concise and evenhanded approach to the topic. As today is the anniversary of this battle, i thought it could be interesting to share it here. A copy of stations manned and ready, 2nd edition, is required to use this product.
High flying dice games fires a salvo with mediterranean. The battle of cape matapan was a second world war naval engagement between british and axis forces, fought from 2729 march 1941. Download pdf italian battleships of world war ii book full free. During world war i he first served on the battleship giulio cesare as a lieutenant and. This publication will be delivered via pdf download. The battle summary is a full account and draws on the action from both sides. Three distinct combats, at calabria, cape spartivento, and cape matapan, provide a basis for comparison of the respective navies. 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.
She was damaged during the battle of crete the following month, but participated in the syrialebanon campaign in june. 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. German chancellor adolf hitler was the very essence. 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. During the battle british naval forces defeated those of italy sinking five warships. 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. Media in category battle of matapan the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. The naval battle for greece, mar41 components, to print off and assemble so that it may be played. A scenario set for the battle of cape matapan, 28th march 1941. It separates the messenian gulf in the west from the laconian gulf in the east. 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. Attack on the italian fleet at taranto operation excess. Battle of cape matapan news, views, gossip, pictures, video. He entered the italian naval academy in livorno in 1904, and graduated in 1907.
Italian battleships of world war ii available for download and read online in other formats. In fact, operation gaudo, a plan to sweep the royal navy from the waters surrounding crete, was intended to demonstrate, after a number of onesided encounters, that the italians were. 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. 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. Battle of matapan 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. View topquality stock photos of battle of cape matapan march 28 1941 world war ii greece 20th century. 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. 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.
If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. 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. Battle of wits presents the history of the war that these documents reveal. In 19111912 he participated in the italoturkish war with the rank of sublieutenant. There are brief summaries of the british carrier air attack on the italian fleet at taranto, cape spartivento.
Orders of battle battle of cape matapan battles of the. Find premium, highresolution stock photography at getty images. Opening rounds battle of midway battle for guadalcanal battle of north cape battle for the philippines. Prior to the battle of matapan, the warspite picks up her swordfish floatplane on the run. The battle of cape matapan was fought during world war ii on march 2729, 1941, before america entered the war.
Matapan article about matapan by the free dictionary. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. 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. The game is for two players and simulates the 1941 battle which saw the forces of the british royal navy take on those of the italian regia marina with the fate of greece and, possibly, the entire mediterranean hanging in the. From the battle of midway until the last german code was broken in january 1945, this is an astonishing epic of a war that was won not simply by brute strength but also by reading the enemys intentions. The battle of cape matapan 27th29th march 1941 from. Matapan definition and meaning collins english dictionary. 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.
Apr, 2014 successful results for british at battle of cape matapan aka akra tainaron, greece. A cave network located at the southernmost tip of mainland greece was once believed to be an entrance to hades. The first occurred on 19th july 1717 when a mixed force of fiftyseven ships and galleys, spanish, portuguese. We were two groups of heavy cruises and we were sailing next to the vittorio veneto at a distance of about a mile, as if to protect her. The battle of cape matapan gave the britain a naval victory in greece but german forces soon overran the country forcing out the british expeditionary force. Cunningham decided once and for all who would be master of the. He then slowly dissects the battle in handy blocks of time including a section on. The battle of matapan 1941 by mark simmons overdrive. In june 1940, italian dictator benito mussolini wrestled with a dilemma. 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, the ottoman fleet, under kapudan pasha egribozlu ibrahim pasha. The 75th anniversary hms ajax and the battle of cape matapan.
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