SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

Ping Panther · 10-18-07, 09:50 AM

A point to consider is that the Brits. historically tended to go on the theory of a routing ships with less significant escort resources; especially in the earlier years.

In the Med., the significance of the occupation of the island of Malta was the "hinge pin" of the ability of the Allied forces to maintain shipping routes and coverage to much of North Africa, the Med. & oil resources in the Mid-east,

"There was no lasting solution for the enemy short of the conquest of Malta."
, P.M. Winston Churchill

Historic attempts to reach the battered Allied forces holding out on Malta:
Operation Harpoon: mid. June '42
Operation Bellows: early Aug. '42
Operation Pedestal: mid. Aug. '42 (considered successful... despite severe losses)
(check in on the significance of escorts provided in Op. Pedestal!... WOW!)

Air support following Allied progression in Med. (retaining Malta's airbase & harbor, N. African Allied forces pushing against Rommel, etc.) provided more coverage. Other naval events thinned some of the more significant escort deployments to the Med. as well.

10-18-07, 09:50 AM	#5
Ping Panther Lieutenant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: the armpit of the Mid-Atlantic / Quadrant CA42 Posts: 262 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	A point to consider is that the Brits. historically tended to go on the theory of a routing ships with less significant escort resources; especially in the earlier years. In the Med., the significance of the occupation of the island of Malta was the "hinge pin" of the ability of the Allied forces to maintain shipping routes and coverage to much of North Africa, the Med. & oil resources in the Mid-east, "There was no lasting solution for the enemy short of the conquest of Malta." , P.M. Winston Churchill Historic attempts to reach the battered Allied forces holding out on Malta: Operation Harpoon: mid. June '42 Operation Bellows: early Aug. '42 Operation Pedestal: mid. Aug. '42 (considered successful... despite severe losses) (check in on the significance of escorts provided in Op. Pedestal!... WOW!) Air support following Allied progression in Med. (retaining Malta's airbase & harbor, N. African Allied forces pushing against Rommel, etc.) provided more coverage. Other naval events thinned some of the more significant escort deployments to the Med. as well.