“Taranto is a solid book. David Hobbs’ writing style pulls you into events and propels you through the story. The book is a narrative history with a unique point of view. It is an impressive work of scholarship both in terms of citations as well as illustrations. Taranto is an accessible, engaging book that will appeal to both serious students of naval history and the casual reader looking to increase their knowledge of the period. An outstanding work, Taranto will be a welcome addition to your library.” —Armchair General

“Hobbs provides an incredible amount of detailed information in this well-written 456-paqge encyclopedic volume. A testament to this is that his essays mention 58 Naval Fleet Air Arm squadrons and 29 other squadrons (RAF, USN, and USAAF), 60 operations, 57 airfields, and 23 U-boats. Especially valuable are his clear and detailed after-action analyses which pull no punches, and that he situates the well-known actions at Taranto and Matapan in the context of a complete analysis of the war in the Mediterranean. It is certain that Hobbs’s years of archival research together with his experience as a carrier pilot allow him to describe and analyze the operations of naval aircraft in the Mediterranean with unprecedented authority. This provides his book with novel insights into many familiar faces of the Mediterranean war while for the first time doing full justice to the Fleet Air Arm’s lesser-known achievements.” —Naval Historical Foundation

“Taranto provides a superb overview of the FAA’s contributions, not just to the famous Taranto raid (paving the way for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) but also the support to the Malta convoys via Force H and the North Africa landings…. The narrative detail and period photos will be of use to modellers wanting to replicate Royal Navy aircraft operating in the Mediterranean theatre.” —Key Model World

“David Hobbs has provided a meticulously researched and expertly told operational history of the FAA in the Mediterranean. Highly recommended as a major contribution to overall air power history.” —Australian Naval Institute

“Taranto and Naval Air Warfare the Mediterranean is a valuable source for some of the most significant events in the history of the FAA.” —StrategyPage

“Taranto is an excellent addition to the series of books Hobbs has written involving Royal Navy aviation operations…. For those whose interests lie in history or wargaming, especially those interested in World War II naval aviation, this book is worth reading.” —Nautical Research Journal