Summary
The nine merchant ships originally sailed from Liverpool (16 September) and the Clyde (17 September) as part of convoy WS (Winston Specials) 11X, arriving at Gibraltar on 24 September 1941, with a close escort under the command of Rear-Admiral Harold Martin Burrough. It was also accompanied by Force H, under the command of Admiral James Somerville. This consisted of the one aircraft carrier (HMS Ark Royal) and three battleships (HMS Nelson, HMS Rodney and HMS Prince of Wales) to protect the convoy against Italian surface ships. The British warships also included five cruisers and 18 destroyers.
The Italian fleet attempted to intercept the convoy on 26 September but did not make contact with it as they turned away after learning that the Royal Navy force included several battleships and an aircraft carrier. HMS Prince of Wales, followed by the slower HMS Rodney, attempted in vain to intercept the Italian force. HMS Nelson was hit in the bows by a torpedo launched from an Italian torpedo bomber on 27 September south of Sardinia and seriously damaged. On the evening of 27 September Force H turned back and sailed for Gibraltar. The merchant vessel Imperial Star, carrying 8,000 tons of war supplies, was hit by another aerial torpedo on the 27th and damaged. Despite being taken in tow by the destroyer HMS Oribi, Imperial Star had to be scuttled the following day. There was no loss of life. The convoy arrived at Malta on 28 September and delivered 85,000 tons of supplies to the island. The Italian Air Force lost 21 aircraft to Fleet Air Arm fighters and anti-aircraft fire from the warships.
Read more about this topic: Operation Halberd
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