Operation Halberd

Operation Halberd was a British naval operation that took place on 27 September 1941, during the Second World War. The British were attempting to deliver a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta. The convoy was escorted by several battleships and an aircraft carrier, to deter interference from the Italian surface fleet, while a close escort of cruisers and destroyers provided an anti-aircraft screen.

The Italian fleet sortied after the convoy was detected, but turned back after learning the strength of the escorting force. Air attacks by Italian bombers and fighters damaged several ships, and forced one of the merchant vessels to be scuttled. The rest of the convoy arrived at Malta and discharged their cargo.

Background

Convoy WS 11X

Operation Halberd was the largest Malta supply effort yet. The merchant ships Template:MV (Template:GRT), (9,776 GRT), (8,063 GRT), (8,039 GRT), (7,347 GRT), (9,653 GRT), Template:MV (12, 891 GRT), Template:MV (10,733 GRT) and Template:MV (7,798 GRT). The convoy, carrying Template:Cvt of military equipment and supplies, sailed from Liverpool on 16 September and from the Clyde on 17 September as part of Convoy WS (Winston Specials) 11X, passing Gibraltar on 24 September 1941, with a close escort under the command of Rear-Admiral Harold Burrough.

Convoy escorts

Force H (Admiral James Somerville) accompanied the convoy and consisted of the battleships , and , with the aircraft carrier with 12 Fairey Swordfish of 807 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and 27 Fairey Fulmars of 808 NAS, the cruisers , , , and , with the destroyers Template:HNLMS, ORP Garland and Template:ORP and , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . The submarines and patrolled south of the Strait of Messina, and patrolled north of the Strait. The Polish submarine patrolled north of Sicily with and ; the Dutch submarine Template:HNLMS patrolled south of Sardinia. Malta had recently received a reinforcement of 27 long-range fighters (22 Bristol Beaufighters and 5 Bristol Blenheims), which bombed and strafed Italian airfields on Sicily and Sardinia and were ready to provide air cover for the convoy after Force H, with Ark Royal, turned back at the Strait of Sicily.

Prelude

File:Strait of Sicily map.png

Map showing the Strait of Sicily

Italian submarines were sent to ambush the British battleships, thought to be planning a bombardment raid against the Italian coast. Dandolo, and patrolled south of Ibiza while , Serpente, and patrolled east of the Balearic Islands. Squalo, Bandiera and patrolled south-west of Sardinia and Narvalo was off the African shore of the Sicilian narrows. The light cruisers and of the 8th Cruiser Division sailed from Palermo with s Maestrale, Grecale and Scirocco of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla to take position off La Maddalena. The battleships and were prepared to sortie from Naples with , , and Gioberti of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla.

The destroyers, , and of the 16th Destroyer Flotilla while cruisers , and from Taranto with , , and of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla prepared to join them. Sardinia deployed thirty Macchi C.200, twenty Fiat CR.42 Falco fighters and twenty-six Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 and SM.84 torpedo bombers against the convoy while Sicily deployed fifteen C.200 and three Reggiane Re.2000 fighters and nine Junkers Ju 87 with twenty-four BR.20 bombers, SM.79 and SM.84 as medium bombers and plus three with torpedoes. More Italian aircraft were operational but were engaged on other operations, including bombing Malta.

Royal Navy

File:Alboran Sea map.png

Map of the western Mediterranean

Ships of the Mediterranean Fleet operating from Alexandria began radio traffic to divert Luftwaffe attention to an operation in the eastern Mediterranean. On 24 September, at Gibraltar, Admiral Somerville shifted his flag from Nelson to Rodney and Nelson sailed west into the Atlantic at 18:15 escorted by Garland, Piorun and Isaac Sweers to give the impression the strength of Force H was being reduced. Nelson turned back after dusk to join the merchant ships from Convoy WS 11X, now renamed convoy GM 2 as the second convoy from Gibraltar to Malta. Force H separated from the merchant ships in the early hours of 25 September so Axis aerial reconnaissance might think only Force H was at sea. Fulmars from Ark Royal provided air cover over the convoy.

File:HMS Ark Royal h79167.jpg

Pre-war photograph of and Swordfish aircraft

Italian aircraft found Force H on the afternoon of 25 September, and assumed the battleships were on a bombardment raid against the Italian coast. A CANT Z.506 seaplane observing Force H at 09:32 on 26 September reported a battleship with an aircraft carrier incorrectly identified as . Since Ark Royal had been seen leaving Gibraltar, the Italians assumed Furious might be flying off aircraft to reinforce Malta while Ark Royal attacked Genoa. The Italian fleet sailed from Naples to take a defensive position with the 8th cruiser division off northern Sardinia, but was ordered not to engage the British fleet unless the Italians held a decisive superiority of forces.

Battle

File:Tunisia - Sicily - South Italy.jpg

Satellite photograph of Tunisia, Sicily, Sardinia, the south of Italy and Malta

Force H rejoined the convoy at 07:10 27 September. Sixteen destroyers formed a curved screen ahead of the two columns of merchant ships. The port column was led by the cruiser Kenya, followed by Ajax, Clan MacDonald, Imperial Star, Rowallan Castle and City of Calcutta. The starboard column was led by the cruiser Edinburgh followed by Clan Ferguson, Dunedin Star, HMS Breconshire and City of Lincoln. Rodney took position behind the port wing of the screen followed by Prince of Wales. Nelson took position behind the starboard wing of the screen followed by Ark Royal in formation with the anti-aircraft cruisers Euryalus and Hermione. The cruiser Sheffield took position astern of the merchant ships, while the destroyers Piorun and Legion were astern of Ark Royal.

Italian aircraft identified Ark Royal at 08:10 and at 10:45 reported the convoy speed of Template:Cvt, which indicated that merchant ships were with the convoy. The battleships from Naples rendezvoused with the cruisers from Taranto at 10:40 and were joined by the 8th Cruiser Division at 11:48. The Italian fleet was faster than the battleships of Force H but was inferior in firepower. The Regia Aeronautica gave priority to fighter defence of bomber strikes, and the six fighters providing air cover over the Italian fleet could not travel more than Template:Cvt from their base. Since Italian aircraft had reported only one British battleship, the Italian fleet received authorisation at noon to engage the British formation. The Regia Aeronautica was requested to provide increased air cover for the Italian fleet by 14:00.

File:R.A. SM.79 gobbo maledetto.png

SM.79 torpedo-bomber

The Regia Aeronautica launched a strike of 28 SM.79 and SM.84 torpedo-bombers with 20 Cr.42 fighter escorts. The convoy came under air attack at 13:00. The strike was met by Fulmars and massed anti-aircraft fire. Three bombers pressed through the barrage of starboard wing destroyers to launch torpedoes at Nelson. Nelson turned to comb the torpedo tracks and inadvertently steadied on the reciprocal course of a torpedo which struck the port side of the forecastle. Nelson slowed to Template:Cvt but maintained position in the convoy. The Italian torpedo-bomber had released the torpedo at a range of only Template:Cvt and endured concentrated anti-aircraft fire from Prince of Wales before being shot down by one of the Fulmars. Six more torpedo planes and a fighter failed to return from the strike. Friendly fire from Rodney and Prince of Wales shot down two Fulmars, and a patrolling Swordfish had been shot down by the Italian fighters before the strike ended at 13:30.

File:Fairey Fulmar Mk I from underside.jpg

Fulmar Mk I in flight

The Italian fleet was shadowed by British aircraft from Malta beginning at 13:07. At 14:30 the Italian fleet was about Template:Cvt from the convoy, but "...decided to return home around 14:30 on 27 September when..." it "... learned that the British had two battleships, a carrier and six cruisers at sea." Aircraft from Ark Royal shadowed the Italian fleet from 15:15 to 17:50. Cr.42 fighters arrived at 15:30 to provide air cover but the squadron leader of the first flight was shot down by an Italian destroyer. Two more Italian pilots were lost when another flight of ten C.200s ran out of fuel and ditched in the sea. At 14:46 Prince of Wales, Rodney, Sheffield, Edinburgh, and six destroyers steamed toward the Italian fleet but were recalled at 17:00 before making contact and rejoined the convoy at 18:30.

Nelson, Rodney, Prince of Wales and Ark Royal turned west to return to Gibraltar, escorted by Duncan, Fury, Gurkha, Lance, Legion, Lively. Garland, Piorun and Isaac Sweers. Euryalus fell in astern of the port column of merchant ships while Sheffield and Hermione joined the starboard column as the remaining destroyers closed into a night steaming formation. The formation was attacked by a few torpedo bombers and Imperial Star was struck by a torpedo; Oribi took the damaged freighter in tow. Italian (MAS torpedo boats) in the Strait of Messina but failed to find the convoy.

28 September

Hermione detached from the convoy to bombard Pantelleria to put the airfield out of action when the convoy arrived in Malta. The damaged Imperial Star was scuttled without loss of life to maintain convoy speed and the convoy arrived in Malta on 28 September. Force H was attacked on its return journey by three submarines and Adua was sunk by Gurkha and Legion. Another Ark Royal Fulmar fell to friendly fire from Prince of Wales, raising British aircraft losses to three Fulmars from friendly fire and one Swordfish shot down by the Italians. Italian aircraft losses were 21 including seven bombers and one fighter from enemy action, one fighter from friendly fire and ten fighters from fuel exhaustion.

Aftermath

Convoy GM 2 was the final revictualling operation to Malta in 1941 and showed that the Royal Navy had gained much experience in defending convoys under attack from surface ships, submarines and aircraft. The convoy arrived at the cost of a battleship damaged by a torpedo and the loss of Imperial Star for the Italian loss of the submarine Adua and 21 aircraft (ten aircraft ran out of fuel and ditched). In 2024, Andrew Boyd called this a fine achievement, that established Malta as an offensive base for the rest of the year. Boyd wrote that signals intelligence, air reconnaissance and staff work were excellent. The presence of an aircraft carrier was of the highest importance and even the Fulmar fighter could compete with the Italian Falco and accounted for about half of the Italia aircraft losses, causing much disorganisation amongst the rest. The Swordfish aircraft were permanent danger to Italian ships, seriously hampered Italian submarines and provided useful tactical reconnaissance during the operation. Ark Royal was unique in carrying 40 per cent more aircraft than the succeeding s. Having been with Force H for a year, Ark Royal had reached a high pitch of efficiency and even without radar had set a standard of fighter direction not reached again until Operation Pedestal in August 1942.

Somerville was knighted in recognition of his command of Force H during Operation Halberd. It was the second time Somerville had received that honour, and it occasioned a memorable congratulatory message from Andrew Cunningham "Fancy, twice a knight at your age".

Order of battle

Convoy GM 2

Gibraltar to Malta (ex-Convoy WS 11X) 25–29 September 1941

Name	Year	Flag	GRT	Notes
Template:MV	1931	United Kingdom	7,549
	1939	Template:Naval	9,776	Convoy Commodore, Captain Colin Hutchison
	1940	United Kingdom	8,063
	1938	United Kingdom	8,039
	1938	United Kingdom	7,347
	1939	United Kingdom	9,653
Template:MV	1936	United Kingdom	12,891
Template:MV	1935	United Kingdom	10,733	Air torpedo, 27 September 1941, 37°31′N, 10°46′E, scuttled next day
Template:MV	1939	United Kingdom	7,798

Convoy MG 2

Malta to Gibraltar

Name	Year	Flag	GRT	Notes
Part 1
Template:MV	1936	United Kingdom	11,086	26–29 September
Part 2
	1937	United Kingdom	8,049	27–30 September
Template:MV	1933	United Kingdom	8,535	27–30 September

Convoy MG 2 escort

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
	Template:Naval		27 September

Convoy escorts

Convoy escorts

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
Force A
	Template:Naval		Flag
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval	aircraft carrier
13th Destroyer Flotilla
	Template:Naval	D-class destroyer
8th Destroyer Flotilla
	Template:Naval	F-class destroyer
4th Destroyer Flotilla
	Template:Naval		Sank Adua, 30 September
Template:HNLMS	Template:Naval
Template:ORP	Template:Naval	N-class destroyer
Template:ORP	Template:Naval	G-class destroyer
	Template:Naval	L-class destroyer	Sank Adua, 30 September
	Template:Naval	L-class destroyer
	Template:Naval	L-class destroyer
Force X
	Template:Naval		15th CS Pantellaria attack
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval		10th CS Rear-Admiral Harold Burrough
	Template:Naval		18th Cruiser Squadron
	Template:Naval
4th Destroyer Flotilla
	Template:Naval
19th Destroyer Flotilla
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval	F-class destroyer
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval	L-class destroyer
	Template:Naval	L-class destroyer
Rescue ships
	Template:Naval
	Template:Naval	O-class destroyer
Force S
	Template:Navy/core		Tanker
	Template:Naval		Tanker escort

Submarine patrols

British submarine patrols

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
North of Sicily
Template:ORP	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
South of Strait of Messina
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
	Template:Naval		Offensive patrol
Off Cagliari
Template:HNLMS	Template:Naval		3 October, sank (1,369 GRT) 40°58′N, 09°59′E

Key

Name	Abbr.	English
	—	Usually two of the same aircraft type
	—	Two of multi-engined machines, three of single-engined aircraft
	—	Area command reporting to in Rome
	Aut.	Independent and under command
	C.T.	Land fighters
	C.M.	Maritime fighters
	B.T.	Land bombers
	B.M.	Floatplanes
	B.a.T.	Dive bombers
	R.M.	Reconnaissance Floatplanes
	R.S.T.	Str R, Land Strategic Reconnaissance
	O.A.	Tac R, Tactical reconnaissance
Aerosiluranti	A.S./	Torpedo bomber

(26 September 1941)

Base	Flag	Type	Role	No.	Serv.	Notes
Decimomannu (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	S.84	Torpedo bomber	29	19
Decimomannu (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	S.79	Torpedo bomber	4	4
Elmas (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	S.79	Torpedo bomber	14	13
Elmas (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	Cant Z.501	Str R	6	3
Elmas (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	Cant Z.506	General	9	6
Alghero	Kingdom of Italy	Cant Z.1007	Bomber	21	12
Monserrato (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	Cr.42	Fighter	35	29
Monserrato (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	MC.200	Fighter	5	4	32 more, 27 September
Monserrato (Cagliari)	Kingdom of Italy	G.50	Fighter	10	7
Olbia	Kingdom of Italy	Cant Z.501	Str R	10	7
Olbia	Kingdom of Italy	Cant Z.506		8	5
Total	Kingdom of Italy	—	—	134	117	c. 60% serviceability

(26 September 1941)

Base	Flag	Type	Role	No.	Serv.	Notes
Chinisia	Kingdom of Italy	Z.1007	Bomber	9	8
Trapani	Kingdom of Italy	Z.1007	Bomber	11	6
Trapani	Kingdom of Italy	Ju 87	Dive bomber	20	12
Trapani	Kingdom of Italy	Cr.42	Fighter	28	16
Trapani	Kingdom of Italy	MC.200	Fighter	9	3
Trapani	Kingdom of Italy	Re.2000	Fighter	11	3
Sciacca	Kingdom of Italy	S.79	Bomber	21	9
Catania	Kingdom of Italy	BR.20	Bomber	18	9
Catania	Kingdom of Italy	Cr.42	Fighter	15	9
Catania	Kingdom of Italy	MC.200	Fighter	67	47
Gerbini	Kingdom of Italy	BR.20	Bomber	15	6
Gerbini	Kingdom of Italy	S.84	Torpedo bomber	5	3
Gerbini	Kingdom of Italy	S.79	Bomber	6	5
Comiso	Kingdom of Italy	MC.202	Fighter	28	28
Gela	Kingdom of Italy	MC.200	Fighter	24	15
Gela	Kingdom of Italy	Cr.42	Fighter	8	5
Syracuse	Kingdom of Italy	Z.506	Str R	6	3
Augusta	Kingdom of Italy	Z.506	Str R	11	8
Augusta	Kingdom of Italy	Z.501	Str R	17	15
Stagnone	Kingdom of Italy	Z.501	Str R	12	7
Total	Kingdom of Italy	—	—	341	217	c. 63% serviceability

Ships

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
Palermo
	Kingdom of Italy		8th Cruiser Division
Abruzzi	Kingdom of Italy		8th Cruiser Division
Taranto
	Kingdom of Italy
	Kingdom of Italy
	Kingdom of Italy

Submarines

Submarine patrols

Name	Flag	Class	Notes
North of Cap Ferrat
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol, depth-charged, sunk, 30 September
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
North of Cap Bougaroûn
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol, depth-charged, 29 September
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol, depth-charged, 29 September
North of Cap de Fer
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol
Off Cap Bon
	Kingdom of Italy		Offensive patrol

See also

• Battle of the Mediterranean
• Malta Convoys

References

• Boyd, Andrew (2024). Arms for Russia & the Naval War in the Arctic 1941–9145. Barnsley: Seaforth (Pen & Sword). ISBN 978-1-3990-3886-7.
• Dannreuther, Raymond (2006). Somerville's Force H: The Royal Navy's Gibraltar-based Fleet, June 1940 to March 1942. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-020-0.
• Greene, Jack; Massignani, Alessandro (1998). The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940–1943. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-885119-61-5.
• Greene, J.; Massignani, A. (2002) [1998]. The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940–1943 (pbk. ed.). Rochester: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-86176-190-3.
• Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-019-3.
• Hague, Arnold (2000a). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945: Its Organisation, Defence and Operation. London: Chatham. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
• Jordan, Roger W. (2006) [1999]. The World's Merchant Fleets 1939: The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships (2nd ed.). London: Chatham/Lionel Leventhal. ISBN 978-1-86176-293-1.
• Llewellyn-Jones, Malcolm, ed. (2007). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean Convoys: A Naval Staff History. Naval Staff Histories. Abingdon: Whitehall History Publishing with Routledge. ISBN 978--0-415-86459-6.
• Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (3rd rev. ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Sadkovich, James J. (1994). The Italian Navy in World War II. Westport CN: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-28797-8.
• Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940–41. London: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-06-2.
• Woodman, Richard (2003). Malta Convoys 1940–1943. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-6408-6.

Further reading

• Bragadin, M. (1957) [1948]. Fioravanzo, G. (ed.). The Italian Navy in World War II. Translated by Hoffman, G. (Eng. trans. ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 120−124. OCLC 602717421.
• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945. London: Conway. ISBN 978-1-84486-102-6 – via Archive Foundation.
• Playfair, I. S. O.; et al. (1959) [1954]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. I (4th impr. ed.). HMSO. OCLC 494123451 – via Archive Foundation.
• Playfair, I. S. O.; et al. (2004) [1956]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Germans Come to the Help of their Ally (1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. II (facs. repr. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). HMSO. ISBN 978-1-84574-066-5 – via Archive Foundation.
• Roskill, S. W. (1957) [1954]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The War at Sea 1939–1945: The Defensive. History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. I (4th impr. ed.). London: HMSO. OCLC 881709135.
• Smith, Peter C. (2011). Critical Conflict: The Royal Navy's Mediterranean Campaign in 1940. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-84884-513-8. First published as Action Imminent: Three Studies of the Naval War in the Mediterranean Theatre during 1940 (1980) William Kimber, London. Template:ISBN

External links

• Merlins over Malta
• Malta Convoys
• The story of HMS Lightning - a WW2 destroyer
• MEDITERRANEAN CONVOY OPERATIONS (London Gazette)
• Newsreel footage of Operation Halberd, as filmed from HMS Prince of Wales