Taranto defenses
Taranto defenses
How extensive were the minefields and coastal defenses of Taranto when the British attacked?
Re: Taranto defenses
Regarding minefields, from "La guerra di mine" (USMM) it appears that four defensive minefields, all of them anti-submarine, were laid between 6/6/1940 and 10/7/1940 in the Gulf of Taranto; all of them betweeno Capo San Vito and Torre dell'Ovo (just outside Taranto). One was composed of 50 mines, the other three of 70 mines each, all Elia type.
Only in 1941 a further eight minefields, these ones anti-ship, were added, and another two were laid in 1942.
Only in 1941 a further eight minefields, these ones anti-ship, were added, and another two were laid in 1942.
Re: Taranto defenses
Coastal defenses (coastal batteries?) I do not know. The anti-aicraft defenses of Taranto consisted of 21 AA batteries totalling 101 guns, plus 68 machine gun emplacements (84 machine guns overall) in both fixed and floating emplacements, and another 109 light machine guns in both fixed and floating emplacements. 13 aircraft sound locators, two of them connected to spotlights; 22 spotlights, most of them "modern type". 27 barrage balloons on the night of the attack, as windstorms had torn off another 60 in the previous days.
Re: Taranto defenses
Coastal defences up to 152mm guns.
Re: Taranto defenses
That's good info Dili, Thanks! Any information on where they were sited?
Re: Taranto defenses
I have to collect it. Maybe this weekend.
- Waleed Y. Majeed
- Member
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- Joined: 13 Nov 2004, 12:37
- Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Re: Taranto defenses
Hi, these might help
https://www.themaparchive.com/attack-on ... -1940.html
http://www.geocities.ws/mchirnside/tar3b.htm
waleed
https://www.themaparchive.com/attack-on ... -1940.html
http://www.geocities.ws/mchirnside/tar3b.htm
waleed
Re: Taranto defenses
I have this in my notes - since the notes included also 280/9 mortars which were not employed there in time of war, it is possible this is an earlier time.
Bty. Gulli 4 X 152/45 and 1 X 120/40; Batterie Aubry 4 x 152/45 both at S. Pietro
Rota(S.Pietro) 4x152 1x120; C Allessandri 4x120/40 , Punta Forca 2x120/40 other source 2x152x40.
By 1943 Batteria Amm.Toscano with 2 203/45 turrets were being build and Cattaneo with 2 305/42 almost complete. None finished.
Bty. Gulli 4 X 152/45 and 1 X 120/40; Batterie Aubry 4 x 152/45 both at S. Pietro
Rota(S.Pietro) 4x152 1x120; C Allessandri 4x120/40 , Punta Forca 2x120/40 other source 2x152x40.
By 1943 Batteria Amm.Toscano with 2 203/45 turrets were being build and Cattaneo with 2 305/42 almost complete. None finished.
Re: Taranto defenses
Oh that is good stuff! I'll have to put those on a map this evening. Thank you!