News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Pathe Gazette

Issue

Issue No.

41/27

Date Released

3 Apr 1941

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. Their Majesties Visit the Canadians
• 2. Realistic ARP Exercises
• 3. Duchess of Gloucester with the Women’s Land Army
• 4. Queen Visits Salvage Centres
• 5. Mr Morrison Speaks on Gas
• 6. Italian Fleet Smashed

Story

Story No. within this Issue

6 / 6

Summary

Mr Churchill announced on Nov 13th 1940 that two Italian battleships, two cruisers and two fleet auxiliaries were put out of action in the naval raid on Taranto Harbour on Monday Nov 1940. This reduced Italy’s naval strength by half, and made her Mediterranean fleet inferior to that of the British. This story depicts the British warships that took part in the battle with the Italian fleet off Cape Matapan on Sunday 30th March 1941. In this engagement the Italian cruisers Zara, Fiume and Pola were sunk, the British suffered no loss, damage or casualties. The ships were under the command of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham. The heavy losses suffered by the Italian navy in these two battles gave Britain a substantial lead in sea power in the Mediterranean.

Keywords

Politics and government; Navy; Military

Locations

Mediterranean Sea

Length of story (in feet)

144

Story extras:

Film clip

Pathe Icon Pathé

Production Documents

• Commentary
• Shot List

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This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

British Pathe Ltd

Email

info@britishpathe.com

Web

https://www.britishpathe.com/

Phone

0207 665 8340

Address

3.29 Canterbury Court
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE

Notes

Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.

Series held

View all series held by British Pathe Ltd