Malta's strategic airfield was key to holding the Mediterranean, but food and oil had to get through past German and Italian bombers. The 250,000 Maltese and 20,000 British defenders were dependent on imported food and oil.
By the middle of May 1942 the island was in urgent need of supply with the situation worsening by the day. In fact the Governor of Malta at that time General Lord Gort used a bicycle for his personal transport to save fuel. If Malta was to be sustained, it was essential that supplies be brought in, whatever the difficulties. It was here that Operation Harpoon was envisaged and executed.
Once again the Royal Navy attempt to supply the besieged island of Malta, which is close to surrender. Two convoys would simultaneously sail to the island, one from Alexandria, and one from Gibraltar. The convoy from Gibraltar left first, this convoy consisiting of five freighters, an American tanker, Kentucky, an AA cruiser, nine destroyers, and four minesweepers, all from the Royal Navy. The covering fore to the Sicilian Channel consists of two carriers Argus and Eagle
a battleship, four cruisers
Cairo, Kenya, Liverpool and Charydbis, and ten destroyers.
The second convoy, leaving from Port Said, consisted of 11 merchant ships, escorted by 8 light cruisers and 26 destroyers reinforced by the already strained Royal Navy Eastern Fleet. The two convoys faced German and Italian aircraft, E-boats, and submarines, not to mention the Italian Navy, with its 15-inch gun battleships.
The main aim of the convoy was to supply the Malta with fuel oil. The capital ships withdrew before the narrow channel between Sicily and Africa, leaving the anti-aircraft cruiser Cairo and 13 escorts.
On the 14th Italian aircraft launched from Sardinia reaches convoy "Harpoon" 120 miles southwest of Sardinia, hammering it with 8 Fiat CR.42s, 14 Savoia SM.84s, 18 Savoia S.79s, 18 Cant Z.1007 bis, escorted by 19 Fiat CR.42s and 20 Macchi 200s.
The British have only 16 Sea Hurricanes and four outdated Fulmars to throw at the Germans. They shoot down 17 enemy planes for a loss of seven, but the Germans sink the freighter Taminbar and cripple the cruiser Liverpool, which is towed back. That evening the convoy entered the narrow Skerki Channel, known as "Bomb Alley," passing through it by night.
The other convoy coming from Egypt also meets the Luftwaffe, which damages the Dutch ship Aagtekirk which has to be sent home. The convoy loses the freighter Bhutan. Late in the day comes word that the Italian battlefleet has put to sea. That evening German E-boats attack and torpedo the destroyer Hasty and cruiser Newcastle. The former is sunk, the latter stays in the game. RAF Wellingtons chase down the Italian Navy, joined by torpedo-laden Beaufighters and British submarines. The cruiser Trento is hit in the melee and finished off by the submarine Umbra.
On June 16th - The convoy from Egypt heading towards Malta, gets hammered by Ju 87s, who manage to sink the destroyer Airedale and damage the cruiser Birmingham American and British planes attack the Italian fleet, which retreats. Unfortunately it's practically out of anti-aircraft ammunition and following an order by Captain Vian “Avoiding Action” which resulted in full retreat. At 6:30 p.m., it turns around and goes home. No ships reached Malta.
The second convoy meets up with two Italian cruisers, Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia, and five destroyers at 6:30 a.m. The Italian cruisers outrange the British, and open fire. Five British destroyers sprint into battle while four destroyers and the AA cruiser Cairo hang back with the merchant ships. HMS Cairo takes two hits, and two British destroyers (Bedouin and Partridge> are disabled), while the Italian Vivaldi is set on fire. The Italians decide to retreat at 8:40 a.m. to lie in wait for the slower-moving convoy off Pantelleria. The Luftwaffe arrives after that, and Ju 88s sink the destroyer Chant, disable the tanker Kentucky and freighter Burdwan. Captain C.C. Hardy, commanding the convoy orders his two cripples sunk, and cracks on top speed. The Italian ships show up again and find only the destroyer Hebe trying to sink Kentucky. The Italians scare off Hebe and sink the two cripples, then run into Bedouin and Partridge, sinking the former.
Although the most urgently needed supply of fuel oil didn't get through, Captain Hardy manages to get 2 ships to Malta :-
Troilius
and Oraricarrying 15,000 tons of supplies to Malta and gave hope to the inhabitants and garrison until another convoy codenamed
Operation Pedestal- is prepared.
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