HL Deb 13 November 1940 vol 117 cc700-2
LORD ADDISON

My Lords, may I ask the Deputy Leader of the House whether there is any statement he can make to the House about the war?

LORD SNELL

My Lords, the Prime Minister has made the following announcement in another place, and I am sure your Lordships would desire to have it read:

"I have some news for the House. It is good news. The Royal Navy has struck a crippling blow at the Italian Fleet. The total strength of the Italian battle-fleet was six battleships, two of the 'Littorio' class, which have just been put into service and are, of course, among the most powerful vessels in the world, and four of the recently constructed 'Cavour' class. This fleet was, of course, considerably more powerful, on paper, than our Mediterranean Fleet, but it had consistently refused to accept battle. On the night of November 11–12, when the main units of the Italian Fleet were lying behind their shore defences in their naval base at Taranto, our aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked them in their stronghold. The reports of our airmen have been confirmed by photographic reconnaissance.

"It is now established that one battleship of the 'Littorio' class is so badly down by the bows that her forecastle is under water and she has a heavy list to starboard. One battleship of the 'Cavour' class has been beached and her stern, up to and including the after turret, is under water. This ship also is heavily listed to starboard. It has not yet been possible to establish the fact with certainty, but it appears probable that a second battleship of the 'Cavour' class has also been severely damaged and beached. In the inner harbour of Taranto two Italian cruisers are listed to starboard and are surrounded by oil fuel, and two fleet auxiliaries are lying with their sterns under water. The Italian communiqué of November 12, in admitting that one warship had been severely damaged, claimed that six of our aircraft were shot down and three more probably shot down. In fact, however, two only of our aircraft are missing, and it is noted that the enemy claim that part of the crews have been taken prisoners.

"I felt it my duty to bring this glorious episode to the immediate notice of the House. As the result of a determined and highly successful attack, which reflects the greatest honour on the Fleet Air Arm, only three of the Italian battleships now remain effective. This result, while it affects decisively the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, also carries with it reactions upon the naval situation in every quarter of the globe.

"The spirit of the Royal Navy shown in this daring attack is also exemplified in the forlorn, heroic action fought by the Captain, officers and ship's company of H.M.S. 'Jervis Bay' in the Atlantic, in giving battle against overwhelming odds in order to protect the merchant convoy which they were escorting, and thus securing the escape of by far the greater part of that convoy.

"The Mediterranean Fleet have also continued to harass the Italian communications with their armies in Libya. On the night of the 9th–10th, a bombardment was carried out on Sidi Barrani, and though the fire was returned by the shore batteries, our ships sustained no damage and no casualty. Moreover one of our submarines has attacked a convoy of two Italian supply ships escorted by a destroyer, with the result that one heavily laden ship of 3,000 tons was sunk and the second ship certainly damaged and probably sunk.

"I feel sure that the House will regard these results as highly satisfactory and as reflecting the greatest credit upon the Admiralty, upon Admiral Cunningham, the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, and above all upon our pilots of the Fleet Air Arm who, like their brothers of the Royal Air Force, continue to render their country services of the highest order."