Malta Convoys
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The Malta Convoys were a series of Allied supply convoys to sustain the Mediterranean island of Malta during World War II. The convoys were strongly opposed by Italian and German sea and air forces.
[edit] Background
Malta's geographical position, halfway between the strategic British bases at Gibraltar and Alexandria, close to the Sicilian Channel between Sicily and Tunis and on the sea route between Italy and its possessions in Libya, made it a vital base for control of the Mediterranean sea routes. For Britain this was the short route, via the Suez Canal, to its colonies in India, East Africa and the Far East and also to the major oil producers of Iraq and Iran.
During the first year of the war, however, this region was a military backwater. Much of the coast was under Allied control - either French or British: the rest was neutral. Moreover, the British and French fleets dominated; the only other effective regional naval power was Italy, but at this time she was neutral. As a result, British defences on Malta were neglected.
[edit] Italy declares war
For a while, Italy held back from supporting Germany; the outcome in northern Europe was uncertain and no decision was required. Once the German blitzkrieg had crushed the French army, however, and Britain had been weakened and isolated, Italy took its opportunity and declared war in June, 1940.
Immediately, the Mediterranean balance was radically altered. Britain only controlled Gibraltar in the west; Malta at the centre; and Cyprus, Egypt and Palestine in the east. France had withdrawn and could be amenable to Axis pressure, so the north African coast from Morocco to Tunisia, Corsica and France itself were at best closed, if not hostile. The French fleet itself also bacame a potential threat and had to be neutralised (Operation Catapult). The destruction of the French fleet further hardened French antipathy towards Britain.
Spain was also a potential Axis partner. The Fascist and Nazi governments in Italy and Germany had enthusiastically supported General Franco in the Spanish Civil War and might expect support in return (see Spain in World War II).
Italy and its possessions dominated the central Mediterranean and anticipated easy victories in North Africa against the British forces in Egypt. There was also the potential of linking with Italian possessions in Somaliland and Eritrea. This was mistaken: the Italian army was poorly equipped and commanded and in December 1940, it was routed.
Control of the sea routes remained vital. Aggressive British naval and air forces based on Malta threatened and destroyed Italian supplies for its African army: Malta was therefore a forward defence for the Suez Canal. No matter, it was thought, the Regia Aeronautica and Regia Marina would quickly isolate the island and neutralise it.
The greatest potential weakness for Malta was its exposed supply line. First, it needed reinforcements, these had to be sustained and the bases needed supplies of fuel. The civilian population also had to be cared for. Everything must come by sea. So, the Italians attempted to starve Malta and to bomb its defences.
They failed. During 1940, without air cover from French territories, several supply convoys arrived safely at Malta and other through convoys passed between Gibraltar and Alexandria. The actions the Regia Marina attempted were beaten off, without serious loss. Even worse for the Italians, Fleet Air Arm aircraft sunk three battleships in the harbour at Taranto, negating the Italians' apparent advantage.
[edit] German involvement
In January, 1941, responding to the Italian lack of success on land and at sea, the Germans sent help. The Afrika Korps was formed and sent to Libya (Operation Sonnenblume) and Luftwaffe X Fliegerkorps were moved to Sicily (Operation Mittelmeer) to protect the shipping lanes and defeat the British forces in Malta.
German involvement was not only more vigorous than the Italian, but because of the occupation of Greece and Crete, it had a longer reach into the Eastern Mediterranean. British forces became under increased threat. The pressure built and, in early 1942, Malta ceased to be an effective anti-convoy base. Several warships were sunk in harbour and others were withdrawn. Supplies dwindled with the loss of convoys.
[edit] The convoys
Supply convoys and reinforcements for Malta, other associated activities and Malta-based arracks on Axis convoys.
[edit] July 1940
The inconclusive Battle of Punta Stilo took place between the Royal Naval warships (battleships HMS Warspite, HMS Malaya, HMS Royal Sovereign, aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, cruisers and destroyers) covering convoys from Malta to Alexandria and the Regia Marina escorts (two battleships, 14 cruisers and 32 destroyers) for an Italian convoy.
[edit] August 1940 - Operation Hurry
Twelve Hurricane fighter aircraft flown off HMS Argus to reinforce the defences.
[edit] September 1940 - Operation Hats
The Mediterranean Fleet escorted a fast convoy of three transports from Alexandria and collected another convoy from Gibraltar. En route, Italian airbases were raided. The Regia Marina had superior forces at sea, but avoided the opportunity to exploit their advantage.
[edit] October 1940
Heavily escorted convoy from Alexandria reaches Malta safely. The escort includes four battleships and two aircraft carriers.
[edit] November 1940 - Operations Judgement, White and Collar
Supply convoy from Alexandria arrives safely, coinciding with a troop convoy from Gibraltar and the air attack on the Italian battlefleet at Taranto (Operation Judgement).
Twelve Hurricanes flown off HMS Argus (Operation White), but 8 ditch at sea, out of fuel.
Fast convoy leaves Gibraltar for Malta and Alexandria (Operation Collar). Attacked by Italian fleet at the Cape Spartivento.
[edit] January 1941 - Operation Excess
[edit] March 1941
Small convoy arrives from Alexandria.
[edit] April 1941
There are two separate exercises to reinforce Malta's air defences. Twenty-four Hurricanes are flown off HMS Ark Royal, sailing from Gibraltar (Operation Dunlop). Blenheim bombers and Beaufighters are also flown in. Three battleships and an aircraft carrier cover the fast transport Breconshire from Alexandria to Malta.
Malta's importance as a base is emphasised by the complete destruction of an Afrika Korps convoy and its Italian escort.
[edit] May 1941 - Operation Tiger
Urgent supply convoy from Gibraltar to Alexandria c coincides with reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet, two small convoys from Egypt to Malta and 48 more Hurricanes flown off HMS Ark Royal and Furious.
The Luftwaffe transfers much of its strength from Sicily to prepare for the attack on Russia, relieving some of the pressure on Malta.
Malta-based submarine HMS Upholder attacks and sinks the large Italian troop transport Conte Rosso.
[edit] June 1941 - (Operation Tracer)
Supply convoys became very difficult, with Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica bases in Crete and Libya attacking convoys from Alexandria, while convoys from Gibraltar are attacked from Sardinia and Sicily.
Submarines bring in urgent supplies and HMS Ark Royal, Furious and Illustrious fly off 48 aircraft (Operation Tracer).
[edit] July 1941 - Operation Substance
Six transports from Gibraltar escorted by 6 destroyers and covered by HMS Ark Royal, Renown, Nelson, cruisers and destroyers. On 23 July, south of Sardinia, there were sustained Italian air attacks: One cruiser is hit and a destroyer sunk. The transports reach Malta safely and an Italian raid to sink the transports in Grand Harbour fails.
[edit] August 1941 - Operation Style
A naval convoy from Gibraltar successfully carries in reinforcements and supplies, sinking an Italian submarine en route.
[edit] September 1941
HMS Ark Royal and Furious fly off over 50 Hurricane reinforcements in two separate operations.
Two large Axis transports are sunk by submarine HMS Upholder.
[edit] September 1941 - Operation Halberd
Nine transports from Gibraltar, escorted by HMS Nelson, Rodney, Prince of Wales and Ark Royal. The Italians sailed to intercept but aborted and returned home. Capital ships return to Gibraltar, with HMS Nelson damaged by a torpedo. One transport is sunk, but the rest reach Malta.
[edit] October 1941
Royal Naval Force K is formed at Malta to enhance the efforts against Axis shipping. Consists of 2 cruisers (HMS Aurora and Penelope) and 2 destroyers (HMS Lance and Lively).
[edit] November 1941
Force K intercepts an Italian convoy off Cape Spartivento and sinks all seven transports. Two Italian destroyers are also sunk.
More Hurricanes are flown off from Ark Royal and Argus, sailing from Gibraltar (Operation Perpetual, 10-12 November 1941). Afterwards, on the return leg, Ark Royal is torpedoed by U-81 and sinks next day.
[edit] November 1941
Force K sinks an Italian destroyer.
An Italian convoy bound for Benghazi is covered by an Italian battlefleet. A flotilla from Alexandria plans to link with Force K from Malta but, the submarine HMS Urge torpedoes and damages the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto and the Italians retire.
The Breconshire is escorted from Malta by Force B to rendezvous with Force K near the Gulf of Sirte and soon after, the British come across Italian battleships escorting a convoy to Tripoli. The ensuing engagement, from which the Italians withdraw, is the First Battle of Sirte.
After seeing Breconshire safely into Malta, Force K sails again to search for the Tripoli convoy. While off Tripoli, they run into a minefield: HMS Neptune and Kandahar are sunk and HMS Aurora and Penelope are damaged.
[edit] January 1942
Three small convoys arrive from Alexandria. One escorting destroyer, HMS Gurkha is torpedoed and lost.
Two large Italian convoys get through to North Africa to resupply the Afrika Korps
[edit] February 1942
During the continuing heavy German air raids, HMS Maori is sunk in Grand Harbour.
Three transports from Alexandria (Operation MF5) fail to get through to Malta; one is sunk by axis aircraft (Clan Chattan), another hit and forced to seek shelter in Tobruk (Clan Campbell) and another one is disabled (Rowallan Castle); the latter is scuttled after the escort is warned about the battleship Duilio sailing off from Taranto to intercept the convoy.
[edit] March 1942 - (Operation Spotter)
HMS Eagle and Argus successfully flew off the first Spitfires reinforcements for Malta. An earlier attempt had been abandoned due to technical problems.
[edit] March 1942 - Operation MG1 & Second Battle of Sirte
Four fast supply ships sailed from Alexandria, escorted by cruisers HMS Cleopatra, Dido, Euryalus and Carlisle and destroyers. Other destroyers sailed from Tobruk, sweeping for submarines before joining the convoy, although one was sunk. In all, there were 16 destroyers.
The convoy was intercepted by strong Axis sea and air forces. All four transports reached Malta waters, but all four were sunk before unloading had been completed. See the main article on the Second Battle of Sirte for details.
[edit] April 1942 - Operation Calendar
The island has ceased to be an effective offensive base, and Axis convoys are mostly untroubled. Several submarines and destroyers were bombed and sunk in harbour and naval units are ordered to leave for Gibraltar or Alexandria. Not all arrive safely.
Fifty Spitfires are flown off from the carrier USS Wasp (Operation Calendar), escorted by battlecruiser HMS Renown, cruisers HMS Cairo and Charybdis and 6 British and US destroyers. Most of these aircraft are destroyed on the ground by bombing.
[edit] May 1942 - Operations Bowery & LB
HM Submarine Olympus is mined and sinks while leaving Malta.
Sixty-four more Spitfires are flown in from USS Wasp and HMS Eagle (Operation Bowery). A second batch of 16 are flown in from HMS Eagle (Operation LB).
[edit] June 1942 - Operations Harpoon [1] and Vigorous
The arrival of more Spitfires from HMS Eagle and the transfer of German aircraft for Operation Barbarossa eases the pressure on Malta, but supplies are needed.
Simultaneous convoys from Haifa and Port Said (Vigorous) and Gibraltar (Harpoon) are attempted: seventeen transports with strong naval escorts. Strong Axis naval and air forces attack both convoys. Two of Harpoon's transports reach Malta for the loss of four transports and two destroyers (HMS Bedouin and the Polish Kujawiak).
Vigorous is heavily attacked by aircraft, torpedo boats and submarines over four days, threatened by a strong Italian battlefleet and eventually returns to Alexandria. No transports get to Malta and a cruiser (HMS Hermione), three destroyers (HMS Hasty, Airedale and HMAS Nestor) and two transports have been sunk. The Italian battleship Littorio and cruiser Trento have been damaged by air attacks and the Trento is later sunk by submarine HMS Umbra.
[edit] July 1942
More Spitfires flown off HMS Eagle.
[edit] August 1942 - Operation Pedestal
The supply situation had become critical, particularly aviation fuel. The largest convoy to date was assembled at the Gibraltar end, 14 ships, including the large oil tanker SS Ohio. These were protected by a powerful escort, 44 warships, including three aircraft carriers (HMS Eagle, Indomitable and Victorious); two battleships (HMS Nelson and Rodney). A diversionary operation was staged from Alexandria. More Spitfires were to be flown off HMS Furious.
After 3 days of attacks (see main article), 3 merchantmen reached Malta on the 13 August and another arrived the next day. The Ohio arrived on the 15th. She had been severely damaged by air attacks but, because of her critical cargo, she had been lashed to the destroyers HMS Penn and Ledbury.
Five of fourteen ships had made it. The Ohio subsequently broke in two in Valetta Harbour, but not before much of her cargo had been unloaded. The Royal Navy had lost an aircraft carrier (HMS Eagle), two cruisers (HMS Cairo and Manchester) and a destroyer (HMS Foresight) as well as serious damage to other warships. The Italian losses were 2 submarines and damage to two cruisers.
The supplies eased the situation, but did not solve it and more were brought in by submarines. More Spitfires were flown off from HMS Furious.
[edit] September 1942
The submarine HMS Talisman lost while on a supply run from Gibraltar.
[edit] October 1942
HMS Furious flew off more Spitfires for Malta. Essential supplies were still needed; delivery made by submarine or fast minelayer.
This month saw the start of the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Malta based air and sea forces significantly reduced critical supplies reaching Axis forces in North Africa.
[edit] November 1942 - Operation Stoneage
Abdiel class minelayers HMS Welshman and Manxman made successful supply runs.
Shortly after, a convoy of four ships and escort (three cruisers and ten destroyers) reached Malta from Alexandria (Operation Stoneage). The cruiser HMS Arethusa was seriously damaged and returned to Alexandria. This successful operation is seen as the "Relief of Malta".
[edit] December 1942 - Operation Portcullis
Four transports arrive from Port Said, without loss.
The strategic situation in the Mediterranean Sea has changed. Axis forces in North Africa are being squeezed between Montgomery's 8th Army and Anglo-American armies are advancing from Algeria. Convoys will henceforth have protection from North Africa. Malta has regained its role as a forward offensive base. Axis convoys will be harassed and the forthcoming invasions of Sicily and Italy will be supported from Malta.
In response to German occupation of Vichy France, the French fleet was scuttled at Toulon and elsewhere, thus entirely removing a potential threat. Also, the French forces in Morocco and Algeria - the Army of Africa - joined the Free French Forces and the Allies.
