WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Episode: The Battle Of Taranto Begins: Stringbags (Part 2)
Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Al Murray & James Holland

Overview

This episode dives deep into the dramatic night of November 11, 1940, when British Swordfish biplanes ("Stringbags") launched their daring and influential raid on the Italian fleet anchored at Taranto. Building on the background and setup described in Part 1, comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland explore the tactics, technology, bravery, and near-chaotic chaos of Operation Judgment. Unique insights, vivid primary accounts, and both hosts’ trademark humour draw listeners into the suspense and significance of this pivotal moment in naval aviation history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Swordfish "Stringbag": Versatile Marvel of the Fleet Air Arm

• Aircraft Character and Versatility (06:12)
  • The hosts detail how the Swordfish, far from obsolete, is ideally suited for the task of a carrier strike: single engine, dual-role (torpedo and bombing), robust in anti-submarine warfare later in the war.
  • "It's got a kind of, it's got a grace to it. It really has. When you see a photo of it, it could be a First World War one, but when you see it for real... it's an amazing aircraft to see, to be honest." – James Holland [06:12]
• On-Carrier Operations & The Relentless Pace (07:10)
  • Unlike RAF squadrons that rotate out, Fleet Air Arm crews face relentless, exhausting operational tempos at sea.

Operation Judgment: Deception and Approach

• Setting the Stage (08:20 – 15:23)

  • Operation MB8 provides the complex cover, with real convoys and combat tasks masking the true aim—striking Taranto.
  • Air superiority is managed through Fleet Air Arm fighters and Sunderland reconnaissance flying out to keep tabs on the Italian Navy.
  • Carrier "Illustrious" with borrowed Swordfish from "Eagle" takes position X, just close enough to strike without alerting the Italians.

• Italian Defenses (10:05)

  • 21 gun batteries, 84 major guns, 109 light machine guns, and barrage balloons protect Taranto.
  • Intelligence gathered by British reconnaissance allowed them to counter Italian torpedo net depths and optimize torpedo drops.

Attack Tactics & Technology

• Use of Torpedoes and Bombs (11:03, 12:15)

  • Swordfish armed with a mix of torpedoes, bombs, and flares divide into two waves. Technical details cover how magnetic mines and duplex-pistol torpedoes increase chance of success.

• Flare-dropping for Night Attack (12:15, 21:32)

  • Artificial illumination is key, with teams assigned to drop flares over the harbor to light up targets even at risk of drawing fire.
  • "The thing they've learned is regardless of the moonlight, what you need is artificial light to light up the harbor so that you can deliver torpedoes accurately and bomb accurately." – Al Murray [12:15]

The Attack Unfolds

Launch and Early Problems

• Takeoff and Approach (14:22 – 17:11)

  • The first wave departs from Illustrious at 20:35; by 20:57, 170 nautical miles to target.

  • Heavy cloud causes separation; some pilots fly in isolation to Taranto.

  • "They've been ordered to use their own initiative anyway. They know where they're all going. The observer's job is to navigate." – Al Murray [15:41]

Inside Accounts and Atmosphere

• Charles Lamb's Vivid Perspective (17:18, 21:45)
  • Cited at length, Lamb’s account brings the experience vividly to life, including the awe of tracer shells ("flaming onions") and the skill in dodging fire.
  • "I have never been in less danger in any attack than I was that night when the rest of the squadron were flying into the jaws of hell." – Charles Lamb via Jim [21:45]

The First Wave: Precision and Peril

• Torches of Flare-droppers (21:56)
  • Flares are parachuted from altitude, intended to distract Italian gunners.
• The Torpedo Attacks (25:16 – 29:35)
  • Swordfish swoop to just 30ft over water through a “box barrage” of flak where Italian guns often risked hitting each other.
  • "Williamson comes in on a southerly approach and then he turns northeast to fly right at the Cavour... He drops the torpedo 700 yards from the Cavour. He’s flown between two destroyers at 30ft..." – Al Murray [26:58]

Losses and Successes

• Casualties and Courage (26:58 – 27:17)

  • The first Swordfish is shot down but crew survives and is treated with respect by the Italians.
  • "The Italian Navy look after them and they say after the war... they're kind of treated as heroes." – Al Murray [27:17]

• Results of the First Wave (32:11)

  • Littorio and Vittorio Veneto are hit, oil tanks burning, and only one Swordfish lost—all pilots expecting near-certain death.
  • "Given their expectation that they're flying into certain death...it's incredible." – Al Murray [32:12]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Night Attacks:
  "Flying low over the sea is incredibly difficult and especially difficult at night. It's so easy to lose your horizon and just go into the water." – Jim [17:43]

• Heroic Calm in Action:
  "I've never been in less danger in any attack than I was that night when the rest of the squadron were flying into the jaws of hell." – Charles Lamb (quoted by Jim) [21:45]

• On Italian Gunfire:
  "The darkness was being torn apart by a firework display which spat flame into the night at a height of nearly 5,000ft… I think our hosts are expecting us." – Charles Lamb (quoted by Al) [19:34]

• On Deception and Surprise:
  "So it's a massive deception exercise, basically… It's a huge, colossal deception exercise as well. Built into it." – James and Al [15:23–15:26]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [06:12] – Description and discussion of the Swordfish’s surprising effectiveness
• [10:05] – Italian defensive measures and British technical countermeasures
• [12:15] – Importance of flare dropping for night attacks
• [14:22] – Launch of the first wave and approach to Taranto
• [17:18] – Charles Lamb’s account of the stressful night flight
• [21:45] – Vivid passage from "War in a Stringbag" read aloud
• [25:16] & [26:58] – Detailed accounts of torpedo runs and Williamson’s fate
• [29:41] – Hair-raising first person accounts of flying in through flak
• [32:11] – Results of the first attack wave; Littorio and Vittorio Veneto hit

Tone & Style

The episode is rich with historical detail and first-hand perspectives, enlivened by the hosts’ friendly banter, wry humour, and sense of wonder at the courage and innovation of these aviators.
Hosts frequently riff off each other's knowledge, sharing rare facts, and using military jargon and analogies familiar to long-time listeners but context-rich for newcomers. The immersive storytelling, especially with direct quotations from memoirs like Charles Lamb’s, captures the tension and awe of the night raid.

Cliffhanger

The episode ends just as the first wave's impact is assessed and the second wave prepares to strike, leaving listeners eager for Part 3.

Notable Speakers

• Al Murray: Brings levity, rapid-fire facts, and a knack for emphasizing the drama of the moment.
• James Holland (Jim): Provides technical, strategic, and historical context, reading evocative first-person sources.
• Charles Lamb: Primary source, quoted extensively for his vivid and stoic accounts.

Summary

With a blend of detailed technical explanation, lively chemistry, and gripping first-person sources, this episode illuminates the daring and skill behind the Battle of Taranto—setting the stage for decisive change in naval warfare and a preview of "stringbags in the Med" to come in future episodes.