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Operation M.B.9 November , 1940
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| This article is part of a larger section
dedicated to: Operation Collar The Battle of Cape Teulada (Cape Spartivento) |
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| Convoy M.W.4 Force D Force A Force F |
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Convoy M.W.4 |
| Included four merchantmen
destined to Malta through a route passing north of the Island of
Crete. This convoy would be escorted by the battleship Ramillies
and the cruiser Berwick which, after having reached Malta, would
continue on to Gibraltar. The Admiralty added to this naval group
the cruiser Newcastle which was already in Malta, where, on the
19th of December, it had delivered R.A.F. personnel and materiel.
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Force D |
| Of the various naval forces and
convoys which participated in this complex operation, force D,
which included the cruisers Calcutta and Coventry along with
four destroyers, was the first one to move. They were tasked
with the escort of convoy M.W.4 which included the merchantmen
Breconshire, Memnon, Clan Fergusson and Clan Macaulay. These
ships left Alexandria on November 23rd, 1940 and navigated north
of the Island of Crete. The convoy was remotely escorted by
Force C, which included the 1st Battle Squadron with the
battleships Malaya and Ramillies, the old carrier Eagle (only
recently repaired) and the cruisers of the 7th Division of Adm.
Pridham-Wippel (Sydney, Ajax, Berwick) and 8 destroyers. |
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Force A |
| A second battlegroup, named
Force A and including the battleships Warspite and Valiant, the
carrier Illustrious, and nine destroyers would leave on the 25th
to provide for further support. Force A also navigated north of the Island of Crete.
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Force A refueled in the Bay of Suda and on the 26th it was already on its way to Malta. At mid-day of the 27th, this naval force was only 160 miles from the island. A separate attack was conducted by the Eagle's Swordfish against the Italian port of Tripoli in Libya. Despite the aircrews' report of a sinking, in reality the Italians did not suffer any losses |
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Force F |
| Yet another force, named F and including the 3rd Division with the cruisers Glasgow, Gloucester and York, was already at sea to conduct training and was later merged with force A. Early in the morning of the 26th, the Illustrious, the Gloucester, Glasgow and four destroyers separated from Force A to conduct an aerial attack against the Italian base of Portolago on the Island of Lero. The mission was partially successful, but the 819 Swordfish Squadron lost one plane. |
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