Malta Convoy - August 12, 1942 - 2000 hours

Malta Convoy - August 12, 1942 - 2000 hours

"Radio silence and lights off people. We are approaching known Axis infested waters" - on board MV Melbourne Star

As Operation Pedestal continues it's mission with 15 merchant ships still intact, the Royal Navy pressed on and by now entered the Strait of Sicily.

Regia Marina's Montecuccolo CLAA. From right to left - Muzio Attindolo, Raimundo Montecuccoli and Emanuele Filiberto

Note house rules: 2000 hours constitute as a night battle. Attributing to that, no air strike was allowed. The range for spot and detection suffer a 50% penalty. A ship may remain undetected even if it's mere centimeters away from an enemy warship.

"Submarines! Submarines! 12 degrees starboard" - HMS Foresight on successful detecting Regia Marina submarines
 
With Regia Marina submarine detected, Royal Navy were able to deter an underwater assault before they could lay waste to the convoy.

Battle formation

As both fleets enter the battle area, the night battle proved to be a difficult situation. Both fleets had to deal with the 50% penalty on spot and detection, making it easier for warships close down and be within mere point blank range and still remain undetected.

"Captain, enemy warship....enemy warship!!" - Moments before HMS Bicester was destroyed

The Regia Marina deployed all available warships at their disposal, a fearsome sight, to stop the advancing Royal Navy.

Turn 2

On the other hand, the Royal Navy deployed their Hunt Class destroyers with HMS Ashanti in the lead as covering ships, while, HMS Cairo on the left flank, in front of the advancing merchant ships.
 
At turn 2, with HMS Bicester spotted my Regia Marina, it soon met it's demised. With that however, it enable Royal Navy warship to detect the Regia Marina but only able to return fire and the next turn.
 
Note house rule: Italian Fleet tentativeness: The Regia Marina built excellent ships in the 30s and 40s and manned them with capable and brave crews. These ships and their crews were poorly served by the Italian Naval leadership who were reluctant to suffer losses. If the Italian navy sorties, a ship that suffers ANY damage from air or submarine attack will return to port immediately. If the Italian navy engages in a surface action, once a ship has marked off 33% (rounded up) of hull point damage, it is treated as a crippled ship, and must withdraw from the action

Turn 3

"Starboard turn, ready those torpedoes" - on board HMS Pen

Royal Navy destroyer warships were able to plot their way just mere inches off the Regia Marina, catching them off guard at turn 3.  5 torpedoes launches were made by the Royal Navy during that turn.
 
With the hope of remaining undetected and to deal silent blows to the Regia Marina became a futile attempt as the Royal Navy approaching destroyers were spotted one after another.

At turn 3 - HMS Ashanti, HMS Branham, HMS Derwent and HMS Pathfinder - were subsequently destroyed by the Regia Marina, dealing a cruel blow to the Operation.

At the Italian side: cruiser Bolzana and destroyers Ascari and Freccia, were forced to return port attributing to substantial damaged received from gun fire

Cruiser Gorizia was the only warship damaged by the Royal Navy's torpedoes which forced her to call port and left the battle.

Turn 4

"Brace yourself boys." - MV Clan Ferguson.

With the remaining destroyer, HMS Fury, screening the main battle line, the merchant ships continued their advancement, hopefully to remain undetected

 
Regia Marina warships by now had split into 2 distinctive flanks and will subsequently converge to attempt encircling the approaching merchant ships, somewhere out there.

 
By turn 4, HMS Fury succumb from the multiple gun fire coming from Regia Marina.

Turn 5

 "They are everywhere, we are surrounded" - MV Brisbane Star

With HMS Cairo the only warship left, the Regia Marine pressed on their offensive and it's within spotting against the merchant vessels, with no sooner scoring for the Axis their first merchant vessel kill.
 
With what left of the Royal Navy, HMS Cairo scored a critical ammo damage on Muzia Attendolo light cruiser; rupturing it's ready ammo loud.

Turn 6

"Ram 'em down!!" - MV Empire Hope steering forward.

 
HMS Cairo continued its maneuver around the Regia Marina while scoring several hits.
 
The situation along the merchant vessel line became so critical that MV Empire Hope steered it's vessel right into the cruiser Emanuele Filiberto Duca D'Aosta; puncturing its hull causing it to flood profusely and finally sinking it.

By this time, the Regia Marina had scored another kill, claiming MV Clan Ferguson, while sinking SS Almeria Lykes with 3 torpedo hits.

Turn 7

"Hold on right boys." - MV Glenorchy on ramming destroyer Fuciliere

 
Another merchant vessel ramming exercise saw the sinking of the destroyer Fuciliere while another Regia Marina's cruiser, Trieste, returned to port after taking considerable damage from HMS Cairo.
 
By turn 7, the hopes of Royal Navy victory soon faded as timely torpedo shots finally sunk HMS Cairo while another brought down MV Glenorchy

Turn 8

"Continue pushing on, reinforcement in on their way" - SS Santa Elisa to the remaining merchant vessels.

Turn 9

The reinforcement never came; the last contact made was with MV Wairangi, right before her sinking.
 
Regia Marina will claim 5 more kills before capturing 3 merchant vessels. Operation Pedestal came to an end on 2045 hours - August 12, 1942, with an Axis victory.

The results as follows:

Combined axis air and naval power stopped the Malta Convoy carrying precious fuel, ammunition and supplies to the besieged island of Malta. With over 75% casualties suffered on both sides however, the Mediterranean theater ceased to be a hotspot for naval activities as both sides took a deep breath to re-assess their available strength.

Without the fuel required, Malta air and naval power ceased to be a threat to Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the German and Italian army in North Africa. Interestingly and historically, the Allied victory during the 2nd Battle of El-Alamein which happened on 23 October–11 November 1942, was partially attributed to Malta stopping 35% of Axis shipping and removing oilers carrying fuel for Rommel's Panzers.

However, due to the failure of Operation Pedestal, Malta surrendered 2 weeks after. The build up of Axis forces were faster than the British thereafter. With the Battle of Alam el Halfa just looming around the corner of August 30th 1942, Rommel can once again reinforce his army with badly-needed supplies. The British 8th Army's fate hangs in balance as the Desert Fox prepares to deal another blow to the already shaken British morale.

Would the British 8th Army persevere? Find out in the next Mini Hypothetical Campaign in 2014, Western Desert Campaign: Battle of Alam el Halfa