HMS Furious does a Doolittle at Taranto, Nov 1940

[Admiral Beez]

Putting aside why it wouldn't or shouldn't have happened, and assuming the ship is available, could HMS Furious have joined HMS Illustrious in the Nov 1940 raid on Taranto with RAF twin engined bombers? The lack of island may help.

First of all, presuming RAF/RN preparations begin in late August 1940, which twin engined bombers, and what role, torpedo, level bombing, dive bombing, pathfinding? Options for aircraft would include the Blenheim, Wellington, Hampden, Whitley, Botha and Beaufort. Botha would be trouble. Wellington is likely too big, about as feasible as a Manchester. Any other contenders? Handley Page Harrow?

 

[fastmongrel]

Wouldn't a full load of Swordfish or Skua be much more useful than half a dozen twin engine bombers that wouldn't carry much more ordnance.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Wouldn't...be much more useful than...

I did my best to address this in the opening sentence. But yes.

 

[fastmongrel]

The only twin engine bomber I can see being used would be a Blenheim but its bombload is less than a Swordfish. It cant dive bomb and the crews werent trained in night ops like the Swordfish crews.

Furious did have an island fitted in May 1939 it was just smaller than her sisters as it didnt have a funnel.

 

[fastmongrel]

Better picture of the island

 

[swampyankee]

The Doolittle Raid, brave and daring as it may have been, was a stunt which caused insignificant physical damage but did generate significant dismay in the Japanese leadership. Taranto caused significant damage to the Italian fleet. The RN was able to mount the attack from well within the range of its carrier aircraft.