Operation MB8 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation MB.8 |
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| Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II | |||||||
 20 mm Oerlikon cannon anti aircraft gunners on board a merchant ship on a Malta bound convoy |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom |
 Italy |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Andrew Cunningham Lumley Lyster |
Inigo Campioni |
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| Units involved | |||||||
| Mediterranean Fleet Force H |
Regia Marina Regia Aeronautica |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2 aircraft carriers 5 battleships 10 cruisers 30 destroyers |
various air & naval forces | ||||||
Operation MB8 was a big plan by the British Royal Navy during World War II. It happened in the Mediterranean Sea from November 4 to 11, 1940. The goal was to protect several groups of supply ships, called convoys.
This operation involved a huge number of ships. The British used two aircraft carriers, five battleships, 10 cruisers, and 30 destroyers. Many of these ships came from Force H, a special naval group based in Gibraltar.
Operation MB8 included several smaller missions. These were Operation Coat, Operation Crack, Convoy MW 3, Convoy ME 3, Convoy AN 6, and the most important part, the Battle of Taranto (also known as Operation Judgement).
Contents
Operation Coat: Sending Supplies to Malta
Operation Coat was about sending help to Malta. Malta is an island that was very important for the British. This convoy carried soldiers and anti-aircraft guns to defend the island.
The ships in this convoy included the battleship HMS Barham. There were also the heavy cruisers HMS Berwick and Glasgow. Three destroyers helped protect them. The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal also provided cover. It was joined by the light cruiser HMS Sheffield and three more destroyers from Force H. These ships sailed part of the way, then some turned back.
Convoy MW 3: Empty Ships to Malta
Convoy MW 3 was a group of three empty merchant ships. They were sailing to Malta from Alexandria, a city in Egypt. An Australian destroyer and the monitor ship HMS Terror also joined them. These ships were heading to a naval base in Crete called Suda Bay.
The convoy was protected by the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry. Three destroyers also escorted the ships. This convoy left Alexandria on November 4. It arrived safely in Malta on November 10.
Convoy ME 3: Empty Ships from Malta
Convoy ME 3 was the opposite of MW 3. It had four merchant ships that were empty. They were sailing from Malta back to Alexandria.
The battleship HMS Ramillies escorted this convoy. The cruiser Coventry and two destroyers also helped protect them. This convoy left Malta on November 10. It reached Alexandria on November 13.
Convoy AN 6: Fuel for Greece
Convoy AN 6 was a group of four slow tankers. These ships carried fuel. They were going to Greece from Egypt. This fuel was important for the British forces fighting there. A slow trawler helped escort them.
Other ships were also sailing nearby. The light cruisers HMS Ajax and HMAS Sydney carried more troops for Crete. These ships formed Force B. Another group, Force C, had the light cruiser HMS Orion. This ship carried supplies for the Royal Air Force (RAF) to Greece. It also checked out Suda Bay. All these ships would later join up to form Force X. Force X planned a raid on the Otranto Strait on November 11 and 12.
Operation Crack: Air Attack on Cagliari
Operation Crack was an air attack. Aircraft from the carrier Ark Royal carried out this attack. They targeted the city of Cagliari in Italy. This attack happened while the Ark Royal was sailing towards Malta, as part of Operation Coat.
Operation Judgement: The Battle of Taranto
Operation Judgement was the most important part of Operation MB8. It is also known as the Battle of Taranto. Admiral Andrew Cunningham led this operation.
Aircraft from the carrier HMS Illustrious carried out the attack. Battleships like Ramillies, Warspite, Valiant, and Malaya protected the Illustrious. They met up with the heavy cruiser York and the light cruiser HMS Gloucester. Three destroyers were also with them. These ships were already protecting Convoy MW 3.
The plan was for the Illustrious group to meet the Barham group from Operation Coat. Then, the Illustrious, Gloucester, York, and Berwick would break off. Their mission was to attack the Italian naval base at Taranto. This attack was planned to happen at the same time as the Force X raid.
Italian Confusion
The Italians knew that British ships were sailing from Alexandria and Gibraltar by November 7. They sent nine submarines to attack Convoy MW 3, which they found on November 8. However, Italian bombers failed to find the British attack force for Operation Judgement. When Force H was seen heading back to Gibraltar on November 9, the Italians thought Convoy MW 3 had also turned back.
More confusion happened for the Italians on November 10. They detected the Barham, Berwick, Glasgow, and their destroyers near Lemnos. The Italians correctly guessed these ships had separated from the Gibraltar-bound force. But they did not realize these ships would join Admiral Cunningham's fleet. On the same day, the Ramillies, Coventry, and two destroyers protecting Convoy ME 3 were also spotted. Again, Italian bombers could not find them.
The British made Operation MB8 very complex. It had many different forces and convoys. This tricked the Italians into thinking it was just normal convoy movements. The Italian reconnaissance (scouting) was not very good. In the end, the Italians only failed to keep track of the Illustrious. The Italians expected the British to act in their usual way. This mistake was a big reason for their confusion.
See also
