As well as being Armistice Day, today we remember the Battle of Taranto – November 11, 1940 – one of the most daring raids in the history of the Fleet Air Arm. Britain won vital breathing-room during the dark days of the Second World War when it attacked the Italian battleships at anchor at the port of Taranto. Twenty one Fairey Swordfish biplanes from naval air squadrons 815, 819, 813 and 824 took part in the attack from HMS Illustrious. Two of those naval air squadrons (NAS) still exists today

Battle of Taranto 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 The Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War between British naval forces, under Admiral Andrew Cunningham, and Italian naval forces, under Admiral Inigo Campioni. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, employing 21 Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean Sea. The attack struck the battle fleet of the Regi

Set in the heart of Taranto, the National Archaeological Museum — Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Taranto - MARTA — preserves the legacy of the ancient Greek city of Taras, later Roman Tarentum. Among its treasures are the haunting Orpheus and the Sirens, the graceful Female Head in Polychrome Terracotta that’s become a symbol of the museum, and an array of pottery, sculptures, and relics that trace the city’s long and storied past. A glimpse into the soul of Magna Graecia, brought to life in Ta