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1.
We were still at that time reading the Italian ciphers.
2. Reconnaissance of Italian naval bases was of no great importance
at this time as we were still reading their ciphers.
3. Cesare and Cavour.
4.. Cutting off Italian East Africa and Libya from Italy was accepted
with equanimity as they were supposed to have supplies there for
six months.
5. Two battleships, three heavy and five light cruisers with twenty
destroyers.
6. Four heavy and three light cruisers with sixteen destroyers.
7. Four light cruisers and four destroyers.
8. Taranto, Naples, Syracuse, Palermo, Tripoli, Cagliari, Leros,
Tobruk, Spezia.
9. 12,900 mines were laid in the first fortnight of the war.
10. There was another reason for the gap in the barrage off Cape
Bon and that was that, when it was laid Tunisia was Allied territory
and the Italians were fearful of French action against the minelayers.
11. The British squadron under Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville
that had just been formed at Gibraltar
12. Damaged at Oran but was able to get back to Toulon after repairs.
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13.
It is a fact that in total darkness or starlight, a black object
is easier to see than a white object. In many cases this is also
so in moonlight. In a searchlight beam, however, the white object
shows up best.
14. It is of interest that of the three types of submarine lost
in the Mediterranean during 1940, six were of the O, P & R
classes; two of the T class and one was a minelayer. The casualty
rate for all three types was therefore the same and worked out
at 50% of the number of submarines employed.
15. Presumably because the restrictions were expected to be lifted
in the near future.
16. Cavour and Cesare again.
17. Both the Commanding Officer and First Lieutenant were tried
by Court Martial at the end of the war and were found guilty.
Lieutenant Commander Fraser was dismissed his ship and lost all
seniority as a
Lieutenant Commander. The First Lieutenant was dismissed the service.
Lieutenant Commander Fraser, however, was Mentioned in Despatches
for his conduct as a prisoner of war.
18. French cruisers and a Seaplane Carrier were also sighted off
the North African coast.
19. Rainbow,
Regulus,
Regent,
Rover
and Perseus.
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