Fireworks will light up the sky above Britannia Royal Naval College tonight, November 18, as the college marks the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Taranto in Italy.

The battle took place overnight on November 11, 1940. In two waves 21 Royal Navy Fairey Swordfish airplanes, launched from HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean, attacked the Italian Fleet in Taranto Harbour. The operation effectively halved the Italian Fleet and gave the Royal Navy a tremendous advantage in the Mediterranean.

A dinner will be held at Britannia Royal Naval College to commemorate the battle, followed by a ten-minute firework display starting at approximately 10pm to 10.30 pm. The display will take the form of two one-minute bursts of fireworks initiated by air raid sirens.