Talk:Battle of Cape Spartivento

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So did the cargo ships reach Malta or not? Melchoir 09:29, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Yes it did without losses. Light italian vessels (torpedo boats, mas, submarines) spotted and attacked it during the following night without any loss given or taken.

Seems both parties called it a success. Indeed losses were very low for bothe, comparable I would say.

The point is, in my opinion, the difference in strategic objectives: Italian Navy's objective was to stand a confrontation with Royal Navy without defeat, i.e. they were not looking for a stunning victory; Royal Navy's objective was to have the convoy to deliver the suplies to Malta and VIII Army. So both succeded in their point of view, but I would like to point how the Italian objective was cheaper than the British.

[edit] Half of the Italian fleet destroyed?

I have recently edited the first line concerning the Battle of Taranto. It said: "Half of the Italian fleet destroyed" If you take a look at the outcome of the battle one battleship was sunk and two more were damaged, together with a light cruiser. Three other battleships remained operational and all of the heavy cruisers too. It seems too strong to state that half of the fleet was destroyed. --Niels Weymeis 09:53, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

Of the six BBs in the fleet, one was sunk and two were damaged and had to withdraw from battle (for a time). That's half, at least according to standards of the day. Maury 13:01, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Strongly opposed to merge

Collar was a two-convoys operation, one bounded for Malta, the other to Alexandria. The Italian fleet engaged only the escort of one of these, and the battle which follows up is a consequence of the operation, not the operation itself. Also, the battle was the first Italian attempt to thwart a British convoy after Taranto, so both issues deserve a separate article. DagosNavy 12:55, 2 March 2008 (UTC)