INTRODUCTION
Only
original reports and official documents have been used in the preparation of
this work. There are some discrepancies in, for example, the operation orders
issued for some operations by C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet and his subsequent
dispatches. These arise when, it appears, destroyers were transposed between
the convoy, supporting screen and the main Fleet; however the participation of
the ships is not in question.
It is in
the submarine section that most problems arise. Not all the patrol reports for
known store carrying passages are now available while many operational passage
reports contain such anodyne phrases as "some stores",
"miscellaneous stores". The absence of specific data somewhat lessens
the impact of the effect that this means of supply had upon the Island's defence.
I am most
grateful for the co-operation of A J Francis and M McAloon of the Naval
Historical Branch for assistance in accessing so many official papers. The ability
to gain access to the official "Malta Narrative" prepared by and in
possession of the Air Historical Branch has also been of great value to me.
SUPPORT OF MALTA DURING THE
SIEGE
There has
been much publicity during 1992/3 on the issue by the Government of Malta of a
commemorative medal relating to the Siege of Malta during 1940-43. While the
population and the garrison were subjected to great privation and danger by
enemy aircraft, and no doubt deserve local commemoration in this manner, the dates
chosen are both arbitrary and incorrect.
The
definition of "siege", according to Chambers Dictionary is
"investment or beleaguering of a town or fortress"; an accurate
description of the state of Malta after the declaration of war by Italy on 11 June 1940. However, the choice of varying
dates by the Maltese Government and the George Cross Island Association for the
ending of the siege have less validity.
If a siege
can be said to be lifted when uninterrupted supplies re-commence, then the true
date is the arrival of the STONEAGE convoy in Malta in November 1942 with all its
merchant ships intact. Further, while some later convoys were attacked, none
suffered loss to a merchant ship and the build up of supplies to Malta continued without delay. Therefore
the date of 31 December 1942 has been taken as the cut-off date for this text,
in support of this these quotations from the War Diary of the vice Admiral,
Malta firstly for the month of November 1942:.
"With the successful unloading of convoy MW 12 the
state of siege existing in Malta was considerably eased. This was
achieved on 28th November, by which date the greater part of the cargoes of the
four ships were dispersed or under rock...... The safe arrival of these four
ships marked the start of a period of building up supplies of stores,
ammunition and fuel, which is now in progress, and which it is hoped will place
Malta in a position to take a foremost part in the attack on the enemy's
southern flank when the time comes".
These are
not the words of a Commander still in a state of siege, rather in the build-up
phase prior to mounting an amphibious assault; Malta had always remained on the attack.
In his
comments for December 1942 the Vice Admiral, Malta writes:
"During the month of December nine merchant vessels and
two tankers were escorted to Malta from the East. 58,500 tons of
general cargo, and 18,220 tons of oil fuel were discharged and the supply
position, from being most precarious, became, in this one month, established on
a firm basis. No serious attempt to stop the convoys from reaching port, or to
interfere with their unloading was made...."
Finally,
the success of these convoys in the eastern basin caused the Admiralty to
abandon as unnecessary a proposed convoy of thirteen ships from the west. These
ships, which included CITY OF EDINBURGH, CITY OF PRETORIA, CORRALES, EMPIRE KAMAL, FERRANGER,
LANARKSHIRE and TILAPA, had been sent out in the Operation TORCH convoys and
held at Gibraltar pending onward passage. They were
now unloaded in Gibraltar and North African ports and returned to the UK. Supply from the west did not
resume until after the occupation of Sicily and the establishment of regular
trans-Mediterranean convoys from the UK to and from Port Said.
METHODS OF SUPPLY
Bearing in
mind that Malta contained a considerable civilian
population, a large garrison drawn from all three Services AND served as a very
active operational base throughout the siege, it may be assumed that only the
use of a considerable number of large merchant ships could support the demands
for food, fuel and other supplies. Indeed, the great maritime/air battles that
ensued around the convoys from east and west are usually seen as the means of
supply. It is true that the failure of anyone of these operations would have
made inevitable the surrender of the island, there was always a predicted (and
variable) date by which the island must capitulate due to starvation. However,
lack of ammunition for the defences, fuel for them and the population, and loss
of aircraft could also have forced such an act prior to starvation itself.
The support
of Malta therefore took a number of forms.
Firstly the passage of heavily escorted convoys conveying bulk supplies of
food, fuel and ammunition. Secondly, the provision of very scarce ("high
value") items such as vital spares, ammunition, medical stores and
concentrated food by fast warships. Thirdly, the delivery of similar items by
submarines, either as part of an operational patrol or a dedicated supply trip by
a partly converted vessel. Fourthly, the provision of fighter aircraft by using
Fleet carriers to take them within flying range of the Island and, finally, by clandestine
voyages by independent merchant ships.
Each of
these methods will be dealt with in separate sections and in chronological
order; this is solely to enable each facet of the whole operation to be
properly studied and does NOT in any way imply any precedence or importance of
one means over others. That is left to the judgment of the individual reader.
For this writer, the failure of anyone of the first four categories above would
have proved fatal to Malta; the fifth, although gallant, had little effect due
to smallness of the operations and the loss or forcing back of almost all the
ships on their inward passage.
THE CONVOYS
Malta could be supplied either from the
east or the west so far as convoy was concerned, the decision being based on
tactical considerations. From Gibraltar, the passage only became subject to air attack for
(approximately) its latter half, and enemy surface force bases were somewhat
more distant from that route. From the east, unless the North African desert
was temporarily in British hands, air attack became probable very shortly after
sailing and surface attack easier due to shorter distance. The eastern route,
after the complete failure of one attempt, could only really be attempted when
the enemy had been driven west of Benghazi. Both routes required very heavy
escort, another factor that inhibited the eastern series due to the steady
attrition of the Mediterranean Fleet.
While
possibly confusing, all convoys are shown in chronological order; where two
convoys (usually one inward and one outward from the island) occur together,
the inward (loaded) convoy is given precedence. Convoys from the east are given
the sailing date of the Alexandria ships, ships also came from Port Said and
Haifa, their dates being 24 hours earlier than Alexandria; the escort was of
course drawn from the Fleet base at Alexandria.
Problems
arise with descriptions of the escort; like their North Russian counterparts
there was frequently a close escort for the convoy, a covering force of
cruisers and destroyers in the vicinity and the main Fleet at sea in support.
Furthermore ships could, and did, move between, the three components of the
escort during the passage. The entire escort, whichever force it belonged to,
is listed for each convoy by type, alphabetically within type. Only if there
are special circumstances is a distinction made between the components of the
escort.
The
freighter NOVASLI sailed from Gibraltar 5.6.40 and MASIRAH 7.6.40 from the same port. Both had
probably arrived at Malta prior to the Italian declaration of
war, or possibly on 11.6.40 itself, neither were attacked. In Malta they joined those ships in Valetta,
and duly sailed in the first outgoing convoys listed below.
1940
Convoy MF 1
Sailing from Malta on 9.7 and arriving Alexandria 11.7 this convoy brought out
evacuees (mainly British families) from Malta and also some Maltese dockyard
employees to increase the skilled labour available at the Alexandria base. Merchant ships involved were
EL NIL, KNIGHT OF MALTA and RODI.
Convoy MS 1
Sailing from Malta on 10.7, this slightly slower
convoy arrived at Alexandria 14.7, and was formed from KIRKLAND, MASIRAH, NOVASLI, TWEED and ZEELAND.
The escort
for both convoys was the battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and WARSPITE, the
aircraft carrier EAGLE, cruisers CALEDON, CAPETOWN, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY and destroyers DAINTY, DECOY,
DEFENDER, DIAMOND, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER and
WATERHEN.
These
operations are also known by the Mediterranean Fleet operation name
"MA5".
Convoy MF 2
Typical of the Mediterranean
Fleet confusion over convoy titles, this second FAST convoy was in fact inward
bound loaded to Malta, sailing from Alexandria 29.8 and arriving unmolested on
2.9. It consisted of CORNWALL, PLUMLEAF and VOLO being,
respectively, a refrigerated cargo ship, an RFA oiler and a freighter. Escort
was provided by the cruisers GLOUCESTER, KENT and LIVERPOOL and the destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND,
JERVIS and JUNO, only the destroyers went through to Malta.
During the
passage of this convoy, reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet were passed
through from Gibraltar to Alexandria, thereby acting as a diversion of
attention from the convoy, and also as a cover had surface attack materialised.
In all,
there was at sea from Alexandria, in addition to previously
mentioned ships, the battleships MALAYA and WARSPITE, the carrier EAGLE, cruisers ORION and SYDNEY and destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, GARLAND, HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and VOYAGER. From Gibraltar sailed the
battlecruiser RENOWN, battleship VALIANT and carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers
CALCUTTA, COVENTRY (all for Alexandria) and SHEFFIELD, and destroyers
ENCOUNTER, FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, FURY, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HERO, HOTSPUR, JANUS, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, VELOX and WISHART. Of
these destroyers, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR, JANUS, MOHAWK and NUBIAN
were for the Mediterranean Fleet.
The two
operations are frequently referred to as "HATS/MB", "HATS"
being the operation name for the ships from Gibraltar, "MB" for the
Mediterranean Fleet operations. The convoy was bombed on 31.8 and CORNWALL hit and set on fire. However,
steering on main engines, she controlled the fire and duly arrived at Malta.
Convoy MF 3
Referred to by the C-in-C
Mediterranean as a "troopship" convoy, four ships sailed from
Alexandria 8.10 and arrived at Malta 11.10, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULAY,
LANARKSHIRE and MEMNON escorted on passage by the cruisers CALCUTTA and
COVENTRY and destroyers STUART, VOYAGER, WATERHEN and WRYNECK.
The Fleet
was already at sea, and acted as additional escort; it comprised the
battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, VALIANT and WARSPITE, carriers EAGLE and
ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK and
destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO,
HYPERION, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JANUS. JERVIS, JUNO, NUBIAN, VAMPIRE and VENDETTA. In
addition, the destroyer MOHAWK came out from Malta to join the Fleet. During the
operation IMPERIAL was mined and towed in to Malta.
Convoy MF 4
On the arrival of MF 3, this
convoy of three ships, CORNWALL, PLUMLEAF and VOLO plus the gunboat APHIS,
sailed from Malta escorted by the cruisers CALCUTTA, COVENTRY and destroyers
WATERHEN and WRYNECK to proceed to Alexandria where they arrived safely on
16.10.
While not
affecting the passage of this convoy, mention must be made of a night action on
12.10 in which the cruiser AJAX engaged three Italian warships and
sank two, then later engaging two others without further result. Those sunk
were the Italian torpedo boats AIRONE and ARIEL both of which blew up. A third
ship, the destroyer ARTIGLIERE, was also hit and disabled; found later by the cruiser
YORK she surrendered, being unable to resist, and was sunk.
Convoy MW 3
This convoy commenced a more
logical coding system, MW signifying Malta Westward i.e. loaded inward to
Malta, while the corresponding empty outward convoy to Alexandria was titled
ME, Malta Eastward; the two normally crossing over on passage.
MW 3 sailed
from Alexandria on 4.11 comprising DEVIS, PLUMLEAF, RODI, VOLO and WAIWERA,
and was escorted by the AA cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyers DIAMOND, VAMPIRE,
VOYAGER and WATERHEN. The old minesweeper ABINGDON also accompanied the escort
on passage to join the local forces at Malta. The convoy arrived at Malta on 10.11.
The
operation, in conjunction with convoys to Greece and Crete and the outward ME
3, was known as "MB 8" and was covered by the main Fleet, the
battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, VALIANT and WARSPITE, carrier ILLUSTRIOUS,
cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK and destroyers DAINTY DECOY, DEFENDER, GALLANT,
HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK,
NUBIAN and VENDETTA.
During the
passage of MW 3 the opportunity was taken to pass further ships, with troops
and stores for the Malta garrison onboard, through from Gibraltar as reinforcements for the
Mediterranean Fleet. Accordingly the battleship BARHAM, cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW and destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND
and GRIFFIN sailed from Gibraltar on 7.11 to arrive at Malta on 10.11.
Convoy ME 3
On 10.11 this convoy sailed
escorted by ships of the Fleet which had entered Malta with MW 3, the battleship
RAMILLIES, cruiser COVENTRY and destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER.
The monitor TERROR and the destroyer VENDETTA also sailed with them. The convoy
comprised the empty ships from MF 3, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULAY, LANARKSHIRE
and MEMNON and arrived at Alexandria 13.11.
MB 8 was a
complex operation for, in addition to the activities described above, the
covering Fleet also carried out the famous Taranto raid, covered Grecian and Cretan
convoys and conducted a raid into the Otranto Straits.
Convoy MW 4
A further pair of convoys passed
to and from Malta in late Nov, concurrent with a
"through" convoy from Gibraltar to the eastern basin. In the east, the operation was
entitled "MB 9", in the west, "Collar".
From Alexandria on 23.11 sailed the fast transport
BRECONSHIRE, now a commissioned naval vessel, and the freighters CLAN FERGUSON,
CLAN MACAULAY and MEMNON. These were to pass through to Malta, while the empty freighters CORNWALL, DEVIS, RODI, VOLO and WAIWERA went
back to Alexandria.
To cover
this pair of convoys a close escort of the cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyers GREYHOUND, VAMPIRE,
VENDETTA and VOYAGER sailed from Alexandria. The Fleet was at sea also,
covering both this convoy and the complex operations reinforcing Suda Bay, and attacks on the Dodecanese.
Operation COLLAR
This operation by Force H from Gibraltar is included as it coincided with
the preceding convoy, and the "returned empties" to Alexandria. COLLAR covered the passage of two
freighters to Malta and one to Suda Bay, plus reinforcements for the
eastern basin.
Passing
through the Straits on 25.11, CLAN FORBES, CLAN FRASER for Malta, and NEW
ZEALAND STAR for Suda Bay were escorted by the destroyers DUNCAN, HOTSPUR,
VELOX, VIDETTE and WRESTLER and the corvettes GLOXINIA, HYACINTH, PEONY and
SALVIA, of which VELOX and WRESTLER covered the passage of the Straits only.
Meanwhile, the cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON embarked troops for
Malta who had been brought out in FRANCONIA to Gibraltar.
As escort
to the convoy was Force H and reinforcements, the battlecruiser RENOWN, carrier
ARK ROYAL, cruisers DESPATCH and SHEFFIELD and destroyers ENCOUNTER, FAULKNOR, FlREDRAKE, FORESTER,
FURY, JAGUAR, KELVIN and WISHART. The battleship RAMILLIES and cruisers
BERWICK, COVENTRY and NEWCASTLE, the latter from Malta, also proceeded as an additional
squadron of the escort.
The
intention was for the convoy to proceed close to the Algerian coast, ostensibly
neutral, as far as possible from Sicilian air bases. The intervention of the
Italian Fleet caused changes in the original plans, and what is now known as
the Battle of Cape Spartivento eventually took place.
The convoy,
with a small escort, proceeded while the main squadrons amalgamated and
conducted a running action with the Italian Fleet which retired behind smoke.
BERWICK was hit, as were at least two enemy ships while the convoy was
unmolested.
Convoy MW 4
arrived at Malta on 26.11, as did the western ships;
NEW ZEALAND STAR and the corvettes continued to Suda Bay together with the drifters
FELLOWSHIP and LANNER.
Convoy ME 4
This convoy, comprising CORNWALL, DEVIS, RODI, VOLO and WAIWERA
sailed from Malta 26.11 escorted by the cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyers VAMPIRE, VENDETTA
and VOYAGER. The convoy arrived at Alexandria 29.11, with CORNWALL and RODI, VOLO detaching to Port Said.
During
these later operations, the Mediterranean Fleet carried out strikes on Tripoli, and also covered the movements
between Greece, Suda Bay and Egypt. Battleship MALAYA, carrier EAGLE, cruiser AJAX and destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, HERO,
HYPERION and ILEX were involved in addition to previously mentioned ships.
The next
Fleet operation was titled MC 2 and had five objectives, the passage of two
convoys to Malta and one from Malta, a southbound convoy from Piraeus to Alexandria and the passage of HMS ULSTER
PRINCE with troops to Crete and Greece. Additionally, carrier aircraft
were to raid the Dodecanese, there was to be a sweep by cruisers and destroyers into the Adriatic, and an aircraft strike and
bombardment of the Albanian coast.
Convoy MW 5A
Consisting of the freighters
LANARKSHIRE and WAIWERA escorted by the battleship MALAYA and destroyers
DEFENDER, DIAMOND, NUBIAN and WRYNECK sailed from Alexandria pm 16.12 and, without
loss, the two merchant ships arrived in Malta 20.12.
Convoy MW 5B
This convoy sailed in two
sections, from Port Said on 15.12 the merchantmen PONTFIELD, RODI and VOLO
initially, HMS ULSTER PRINCE was attached to this section.
From Alexandria early on 16.12 there sailed the
freighters DEVIS and HOEGH HOOD escorted by the AA cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyer HAVOCK with the
submarine PARTHIAN in company.
At sea, as
cover for the entire operation, was the Fleet comprising battleships VALIANT
and WARSPITE, carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK and destroyers
DAINTY, GREYHOUND, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO
and MOHAWK which sailed from Alexandria, while the cruiser ORION was at Piraeus
and AJAX and SYDNEY were en route from there to Suda Bay.
The two
sections of MW 5B made a rendezvous at 0800 17.12, HOEGH HOOD being detached to
proceed independent of the convoy with HAVOCK as an escort due to her slowness.
Both convoys MW 5A and MW 5B and the independent HOEGH HOOD arrived safely at Malta, the convoys on 20.12.
Convoy ME 5A
Formed from some of the empty
ships at Malta for Alexandria, BRECONSHIRE, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULAY and MEMNON sailed pm 20.12 escorted by the AA cruiser CALCUTTA, destroyer WRYNECK
and corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY and SALVIA, and screened during the night by the
main body of the Fleet. The convoy arrived unscathed at Alexandria am 23.12.
Convoy MG 1
This convoy, routed to Gibraltar,
also sailed from Malta pm 20.12 and consisted of CLAN FORBES and CLAN FRASER
accompanied by the battleship MALAYA and escorted by the destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION and ILEX.
The main
Fleet, having seen ME 5A clear of potential surface attack, turned westward and
made contact with MG 1 at 1500 on 21.12 until 1930 when MALAYA, the convoy and the five destroyers
proceeded westward to meet Force H, and the Fleet turned back for Alexandria.
During the
further passage, HYPERION was mined and later sunk by the destroyer JANUS which
had been sent out from Malta with the 14th Flotilla on receipt
of information of the mining.
Force H was
at sea under the operation name "Hide" to meet MALAYA and MG 1 and consisted of the
battlecruiser RENOWN, carrier ARK ROYAL, cruisers SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE,
FORESTER, FORTUNE and FOXHOUND with a further destroyer force of DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS, JAGUAR and WISHART.
Force H, MALAYA and convoy MG 1 arrived at Gibraltar during 24.12 thus concluding the
1940 convoy operations to and from Malta.
1941
The 1941
convoy season opened with a complex operation from both Alexandria and
Gibraltar, the former under the operation title MC 4 covering the passage of a
fast convoy to Malta where one ship would enter while the remainder continued
eastward, a fast and a slow convoy from Malta to the eastward and two Aegean
convoys, under the title Operation EXCESS for the first part of the passage. In
fact, the entire set of operations is now conveniently referred to under that
single title in most accounts.
The
rationale behind such an operation was the success of the earlier operations
which seemed to indicate that a passage through the length of the Mediterranean was possible, but unfortunately a
new factor had entered the equation - the German Air Force. While EXCESS was a
success in that all the merchant ships completed their passage undamaged, the
cost to the Mediterranean Fleet was high and served notice that such future
operations should not be repeated until there was a drastic change of
circumstances i.e. the British occupation of North Africa and air superiority in the central Mediterranean. Such circumstances did not arise
for another two years.
Operation Excess
This convoy
of CLAN CUMMING, CLAN FRASER, EMPIRE SONG and ESSEX sailed westward from Gibraltar at 1600 on 6.1 escorted by the
cruiser BONAVENTURE and destroyers DUNCAN, HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO. The whole
force reversed course after dark, passed through the Straits and was then
covered by Force H, the battlecruiser RENOWN, battleship MALAYA, carrier ARK
ROYAL, cruiser SHEFFIELD and destroyers DUNCAN, FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER,
FORTUNE, FOXHOUND, FURY and JAGUAR.
The
following day MALAYA, FIREDRAKE and JAGUAR joined the
convoy proper, Force H proceeded ahead and to the north as cover. During 9.1,
ARK ROYAL flew off five Swordfish reinforcements to Malta.
Contact was
made with units of the Mediterranean Fleet during the forenoon of 9.1 when the
cruisers GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON and destroyer ILEX joined the convoy. Force H, except for
BONAVENTURE and JAGUAR who were to go through to Malta, detached and returned
westward shortly before dusk that day.
At 0720 on
10.1, two Italian torpedo boats were sighted to port of the convoy. JAGUAR, to
port, and BONAVENTURE, astern, challenged and then engaged being joined by the
other ships of the escort. After a prodigious expenditure of ammunition in the
dawn light (BONAVENTURE alone expended 600 rounds of 5.25") the torpedo
boat VEGA was stopped, and then sunk by the destroyer HEREWARD after some forty
minutes action; the second opponent escaped.
The convoy
and reinforced escort, joined shortly after the action by the main Fleet,
continued its passage of the Narrows during which the destroyer GALLANT was mined, lost her
bows, and had to be towed in to Malta. BONAVENTURE, GRIFFIN and MOHAWK escorting, the ships
reached Malta 11.1 having been preceded by the Malta freighter, ESSEX, which arrived
escorted by the destroyer HERO late on 10.1. Her cargo included 4000 tons of
ammunition, 12 cased Hurricane fighters and 3000 tons of seed potatoes for the
island. The passage of the remainder of the convoy was in company with ME 5½
and is recorded under that heading.
Movements of the Mediterranean Fleet - At this point it is advisable to
record the early movements of the Mediterranean Fleet in connection with the
three Malta convoys in the eastern basin plus
the "Excess" convoy.
The
cruisers GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON and the destroyers ILEX and JANUS sailed
from Alexandria 6.1 for Malta loaded with Army and RAF personnel.
After disembarking these, and fuelling, on 8.1 all ships sailed and met the
eastbound Excess convoy as previously related.
The main
Fleet sailed from Alexandria before dawn on 7.1, battleships
VALIANT and WARSPITE, carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and destroyers DAINTY, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, JERVIS, MOHAWK and NUBIAN for Suda Bay, arriving 1230 8.1, where the
destroyers fuelled. Sailing again at 1400, accompanied by the cruiser SYDNEY
and destroyer STUART, which were detached to Alexandria midday 9.1 when the Fleet proceeded to
make a rendezvous with the Excess convoy, and the two eastbound Malta convoys.
Convoy MW 5½ - This convoy sailed from Alexandria at 1400 on 7.1 escorted by the AA
cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyers DEFENDER and DIAMOND and consisted of the
commissioned transport BRECONSHIRE and freighter CLAN MACAULAY. The group was
not attacked, and arrived safely at Malta at 0800 on 10.1. Cover was provided
by the complex movements of the Mediterranean Fleet throughout its passage.
Convoy ME 5½ - Made up of two empty freighters,
LANARKSHIRE and WAIWERA escorted by the AA cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyer DIAMOND, these ships
sailed from Malta immediately after the arrival of
the inward convoy MW 5½. CALCUTTA was detached almost immediately to
join the "Excess" convoy somewhat ahead of ME 5½. Thereafter the
convoy proceeded to join the EXCESS convoy later in the day and stayed with it
until the morning of the 12.1 when it detached to pass south of Crete to arrive at Alexandria on 13.1.
Convoy ME 6
- This convoy comprised the slower freighters DEVIS, HOEGH HOOD, RODI, TROCAS
and VOLO and the tankers PLUMLEAF and PONTFIELD, which sailed from Malta also
on 10.1 escorted by the three corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY and SALVIA. It was
intended that the cruisers GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON and destroyer DIAMOND should also
join this convoy, but other matters intervened before this could take place. In
the event, the cruisers AJAX, ORION, PERTH and YORK joined the convoy from Suda Bay mid morning 10.1, AJAX detaching again at noon. At dusk ORION and PERTH also detached leaving YORK as the escort, the corvettes also
having detached to Suda Bay. The destroyer NUBIAN joined at
0800 12.1 and YORK left at 1000, the convoy arrived unscathed at Alexandria on 13.1.
Air attack on the Fleet - Presumably acting on the
principal that, if the main component of the escort be eliminated the
destruction of the escorted ships becomes easier, the heaviest attacks after
the departure from Malta was directed first at the main Fleet and then at a
detached cruiser force.
Unlike the
earlier attacks which were conducted by the Italian Navy and Air Force, these
later, and most destructive efforts, were mounted principally by German
aircraft. The battle opened with an attack by Italian torpedo aircraft just
after noon, which was evaded, then very shortly afterwards a large formation of
German dive bombers arrived and commenced determined and highly skilled attacks
aimed solely at the carrier ILLUSTRIOUS. In a series of strikes 6 direct hits
and three near misses disabled the carrier, starting serious fires, rendering
the flight deck unusable, putting half the armament out of action and damaging
her steering.
Out of
control and later steering with her main engines, the carrier left the Fleet
and headed for Malta screened by HASTY and JAGUAR,
suffering a further attack and again being hit en route. She finally berthed at
Malta shortly after 2200 10.1, although her fires were not
extinguished until 0300 11.1; she lost 126 dead and 91 wounded.
A further
dive bombing attack was made on the main Fleet at 1700, concentrated on the
battleship VALIANT, but with no major effect. However, the next day the dive
bombers returned and made the cruiser force their target, GLOUCESTER was struck by a bomb which failed
to explode but SOUTHAMPTON suffered three major hits that started large fires. Although fought
with some initial success the battle was in vain and the ship was abandoned
late that evening and sunk by torpedoes from the cruisers GLOUCESTER and ORION. GLOUCESTER lost 9 dead and 14 wounded, SOUTHAMPTON 80 dead and 87 wounded.
Passage of ILLUSTRIOUS from Malta to Alexandria - Although not strictly part of the convoy action
related previously, it is appropriate to include the passage of the damaged
carrier here arising, as it does, from the convoy action.
ILLUSTRIOUS
lay at Malta from arrival on 10.1 until 23.1
making such repairs as were possible to fit her for sea. During this time there
were a number of attacks, the first on the 13.1 being ineffective. Two large
scale dive bomb attacks were mounted on 16.1 during which the ship was hit aft,
where most of the previous damage had been concentrated, and a further attack
on 19.1 in which near misses caused underwater damage and flooding.
No speed
could be predicted for ILLUSTRIOUS when she sailed from Malta at 1846 on 23.1 steering south to
get as far away from Sicilian air bases, where the German dive bombers were
then located, as possible. Speed was worked up to 25 knots for six hours, then
dropped to 21 but resumed 23 knots later on 24.1 at which speed she proceeded
to Alexandria arriving at 1300 25.1 with only 60 tons of fuel remaining.
The carrier
was screened by the destroyers GREYHOUND, JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO from Malta, the destroyers having been sent
from Suda Bay. For the final leg of the passage
to Alexandria, the battleships BARHAM and
VALIANT, cruiser PERTH and destroyers DIAMOND, GRIFFIN, HASTY, MOHAWK, NUBIAN and STUART
provided cover. A cruiser force also at sea failed to find the carrier as her
speed was considerably greater than had been expected.
Return of BRECONSHIRE and CLAN
MACAULAY
These
two ships having gone to Malta in convoy MW 5½ were now ready to
return. Accordingly, during the transfer of troops to Malta (see surface warship section) both
freighters sailed from Malta at dusk 20.2, BRECONSHIRE escorted
by HAVOCK and CLAN MACAULAY by HOTSPUR.
BRECONSHIRE
and her escort joined the main Fleet covering force during 21.2 detaching late
that day and arriving at Alexandria 22.2.
CLAN
MACAULAY and her escort were reinforced by the AA cruiser COVENTRY on 21.2 and were attacked that
afternoon by German aircraft. Despite having a bomb pass through her funnel,
CLAN MACAULAY was otherwise undamaged and she and her escorts also arrived at Alexandria 22.2.
Convoy MW 6
This convoy involved the passing
of four freighters to Malta and took place under the operation
title of MC 9. Three ships CITY OF MANCHESTER, CLAN FERGUSON and PERTHSHIRE
sailed from Haifa 19.3 escorted by the destroyers GRIFFIN and HOTS PUR while CITY OF LINCOLN sailed from Alexandria escorted by GREYHOUND. The ships
made their junction north of Alexandria and proceeded close to western Crete to take advantage of fighter cover
from Maleme airfield.
The main
Fleet, battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE, carrier FORMIDABLE and
destroyers HAVOCK, HERO, ILEX, JAGUAR, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN
sailed from Alexandria to cover the convoy and made the junction just as an air
attack developed at midday 21.3. The cruiser BONAVENTURE from Suda Bay had already joined the convoy. At
1600 the cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION, PERTH and YORK and destroyers HASTY,
HEREWARD and STUART joined the main Fleet, later the cruisers CALCUTTA, CARLISLE and COVENTRY reinforced the escort with the
destroyer HAVOCK. During the night, the battlefleet cruised to the north of the
convoy with the main cruiser force to the north of the Fleet.
All ships
remained in contact throughout the 22.3, the Fleet leaving at sunset detaching
MOHAWK and NUBIAN to join the convoy escort replacing CARLISLE and COVENTRY. The convoy and escort arrived
undamaged at Malta at 0700 23.3. Air attack on Malta commenced almost on arrival and
CITY OF LINCOLN received minor damage while PERTHSHIRE was hit forward and
set on fire.
Operations MD 2 and MD 3
These two operations were
intended to supply Malta, retrieve empty ships in the
island, and to create a diversion by bombarding Tripoli.
The
operation commenced on 18.4 with the Fleet, consisting of the battleships
BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE, carrier FORMIDABLE, cruisers CALCUTTA and PHOEBE
and destroyers DEFENDER, ENCOUNTER, GRIFFIN, HAVELOCK, HEREWARD, JAGUAR,
KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON sailing from Alexandria for Suda Bay to fuel. Twelve
hours behind the Fleet, BRECONSHIRE escorted by the cruiser PERTH and destroyer HOTSPUR also sailed.
The Fleet fuelled at Suda Bay on 19.4, and sailed at 1630 south
westward to meet BRECONSHIRE.
Convoy ME 7
At dusk on 19.4 this convoy
sailed from Malta, consisting of the empty CITY OF LINCOLN, CITY OF MANCHESTER,
CLAN FERGUSON and PERTHSHIRE escorted by the destroyers DIAMOND, JANUS, JERVIS
and NUBIAN.
The Fleet
was joined by the cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER and ORION and destroyers HASTY and
HERO at 0800 on 20.4, at which time BRECONSHIRE and her escort also met the
Fleet.
At noon that day the eastbound ME 7 was
met, JANUS and JERVIS joined the Fleet and ME 7 continued to Alexandria escorted by CALCUTTA and PHOEBE and destroyers DIAMOND
and NUBIAN, arriving without incident.
The Fleet
continued westward without incident, detached BRECONSHIRE escorted by the
destroyer ENCOUNTER to Malta at dusk, and then steered southward
to bombard Tripoli at 0500 on 21.4. On completion the
Fleet withdrew having met no opposition other than shadowing aircraft
throughout the operation. JANUS and JERVIS were detached at dusk to return to Malta.
Finally,
after a rapid unloading, BRECONSHIRE was sailed from Malta on 28.4 escorted by the cruiser
DIDO, minelayer ABDIEL and destroyers IMPERIAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS and JUNO. After
a quiet passage all ships arrived at Alexandria completing, so far as the warships
were concerned, Operation SALIENT.
Operation TIGER
With the
evacuation of Greece and Crete, while the Army had recovered many
personnel through the efforts of the Mediterranean Fleet, almost all the heavy
equipment had been lost. Accordingly, despite previous experience, the passage
of a convoy of fast ships from Gibraltar to Alexandria was ordered by the government.
Quite why this opportunity of also supplying Malta was ignored is not recorded in
naval records. As the decision to mount the operation was entirely political it
must be assumed that the needs of Malta were not even considered in the
urgency of the time. Even one fast freighter to Malta would have made a major
contribution to the island's supply situation, and it is difficult to follow
the rationale of the London decision. As Malta contributed in the support of the
convoy, it is recorded here as an example of a lost opportunity.
Five ships,
CLAN CAMPBELL, CLAN CHATTAN, CLAN LAMONT, EMPIRE SONG and NEW ZEALAND STAR were
sailed from the Clyde 28.4 with the Cape troop convoy WS 8A. These ships
detached from the main convoy on 2.5 escorted by the battlecruiser REPULSE,
cruiser NAIAD and destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS to proceed through the
Straits to Malta and beyond. NAIAD was sent on ahead
to make report on the state of the convoy as CLAN CAMPBELL had suffered serious
defects that gave cause to believe she could not proceed beyond Gibraltar. In
the event this was not the case.
In addition
to the ships of the convoy, certain naval units were also to pass through to
the east to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet, the principal ship being the battleship
QUEEN ELIZABETH which arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown on 30.4.
QUEEN
ELIZABETH, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE and VELOX sailed from Gibraltar westward at 1600 4.5 to relieve
REPULSE and her destroyers with the five ship convoy, the destroyers proceeding
to Gibraltar to fuel. Force H, the battlecruiser
RENOWN, and cruisers FIJI and SHEFFIELD sailed later to meet the incoming
convoy, while the destroyers KASHMIR and KIPLING carried out A/S sweeps in the Straits.
The convoy
passed the Straits at 0130 and the main body of warships at 0430 on 6.5;
organisation was as follows:
The convoy
of five merchant ships escorted by destroyers FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, KASHMIR and KIPLING while the warships were
organised as the escort (Force H) RENOWN, ARK ROYAL and SHEFFIELD screened by HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS. The reinforcements
for the east consisted of QUEEN ELIZABETH, FIJI, GLOUCESTER and NAIAD screened by FAULKNOR,
FORESTER and FURY. The destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER provided local escort from
Gibraltar.
GLOUCESTER with KASHMIR and KIPLING had been off Malta and should have joined the
operation there. However, the harbour and adjacent anchorage was blocked and
fouled by mines so that the three ships were ordered to Gibraltar, GLOUCESTER being bombed en route. Fortunately,
the bomb failed to explode, merely making a 2' 6" hole in the quarterdeck
and ship's bottom, a mine exploded in her paravane also caused some flooding of
oil fuel tanks. Arriving at Gibraltar on 4.5, she was at once docked and remedial measures taken
so that she could join the operation.
On 8.5 all
forces concentrated on the convoy as it approached the danger area, the first
shadowing aircraft arriving and reporting the ships just before noon and the first attack, by Italian
torpedo bombers, commenced at 1345. It was repelled without damage to convoy or
escorts. Further Italian bombing attacks during the afternoon were also without
success. At 2015, RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and the screen of HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS turned back for Gibraltar. As they did so another Italian
torpedo attack developed, while it was avoided it was pressed home with great
gallantry. During the action RENOWN suffered damage when her P3 4.5"
mounting suffered a control failure and fired into the rear of P2 mounting,
killing 6 and wounding 26 of the guns crew.
At this
stage of Operation TIGER the participation of the eastern forces becomes
crucial and TIGER becomes part of the overall Mediterranean Fleet operation MD
4.
Convoy MW 7A
- A four ship, 14 knot convoy, made up of the freighters AMERIKA,
SETTLER, THERMOPYLAE and TALABOT escorted by the cruisers CALCUTTA, DIDO and
PHOEBE and destroyers HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX and ISIS sailing from Alexandria on
6.5 and due at Malta 10.5 as the TIGER convoy passed the island.
Convoy MW 7B - A convoy of two 10kt tankers
HOEGH HOOD and SVENNOR escorted by the cruisers CARLISLE and COVENTRY,
destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER and GREYHOUND, corvette GLOXINIA (which was equipped
for magnetic minesweeping) and minesweeper SWONA sailing from Alexandria on 5.5
and due at Malta 10.5.
Both these
convoys were covered by the Mediterranean Fleet of the battleships BARHAM,
VALIANT and WARSPITE, carrier FORMIDABLE, cruisers AJAX, ORION and PERTH and
destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR, IMPERIAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NAPIER and NIZAM. Accompanying the fleet were the fast
minelayer ABDIEL with contact mines and the commissioned transport BRECONSHIRE
with stores and fuels for Malta. The Fleet sailed from Alexandria on 6.5.
The eastern operations up to 10 May - Shortly after sailing, DEFENDER
had to leave MW 7B due to defects and return to Alexandria.
At 1130 on
7.5 AJAX, HAVOCK, HOTS PUR and IMPERIAL were
detached to carry out a bombardment of Benghazi that night both to inflict damage
and as a diversion. This force carried out its task and rejoined the Fleet at
1700 8.5, reporting the probable destruction of two freighters off the port.
After dusk
on 8.5 the five AA capable cruisers CALCUTTA, CARLISLE, COVENTRY, DIDO and
PHOEBE were detached and sent ahead to join the TIGER convoy while BRECONSHIRE
escorted by HAVOCK, HOTSPUR and IMPERIAL (all fitted with M/S gear) proceeded
direct to Malta. Both the MW convoys arrived at Malta by noon 9.5 and at 1515 the Fleet met the
TIGER convoy. The narrative must now consider the actions of those ships.
After the
detachment of Force H, the TIGER convoy and supporting ships continued eastward
with no problems until midnight on 8.5 when NEW ZEALAND STAR exploded a mine in
her paravanes, within three minutes EMPIRE SONG had struck two mines, or
exploded them close aboard in her paravanes, and was forced to leave the line
and report a fire in the hold containing ammunition.
FORESIGHT
and FORTUNE left the screen and stood by the EMPIRE SONG, FORESIGHT then going
alongside and taking off her crew. After consideration it was decided that the
ship might be saved and a volunteer party from FORESIGHT of RN and MN officers
and ratings was sent over by whaler just as EMPIRE SONG blew up, distributing
tanks, ammunition and portions of ship's structure over the area. The whaler
was sunk, fortunately with the loss of only one life, and the two destroyers
rejoined the convoy with FORESIGHT loaded with 130 survivors, she was ordered
to Malta to land these and therefore left
the convoy.
The
cruisers DIDO and PHOEBE joined at 0600 9.5, and CALCUTTA, CARLISLE and COVENTRY at 0800 while the main Fleet was
met at 1515.
On the
eastward passage, destroyers were detached and carried out a further
bombardment of Benghazi - 866 rounds of 4.7" being
placed in the harbour area in 9 minutes. Operation TIGER was concluded by the
convoy's arrival at Alexandria at noon 12.5 having suffered only the lo
