קמפיין מאלטה תדריך משימה מס' 2 - יום ה' 10.10 בשעה 21:30

ULTRA REPORT - MOST SECRET
FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE ADDRESSEE ONLY
OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY
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ITALIAN CONVOY SITUATION O.I.C/M.C.28
19th November 1941

DTPT
INS
Part I AT SEA
Contact 5679
One large convoy comprising several transports and an escort of several DD's and at least
one CA class cruiser last sighted 40km NE of Palermo, approx grid CA29
Current location unknown. Suspected destination is Tripoli

Contact 5695
One Zara class CA escorted by several DD's and transport convoy comprising at least three large
Merchants carrying supplies and escorted by several DD's has been
reported 50km West of Catania, approx grid CK24

Contact 5705
Three Doria Class BB's (RM Doria, RM Cesare and RM Duilio) escorted by several DD's
has left Taranto (Reggio Calabria) harbor. Heading and destination unknow
Note: was sighted by aircraft in position 10 miles SW of Taranto at 0745B/19

Part II General
Both Littorio BB's have been reported in Palermo harbor

Distribution
1st Lord A.C.N.S. (F) D. of P. N.I.D.8.E.I
1st Sea Lord D.O.D.(F) D.M.I. N.I.D.3
V.C.N.S D.D.I.C A.C.A.S.I

END REPORT

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Due to the desperate shortage of aircraft on Malta we must minimise aircraft losses
To put our losses in context we lost 1/6th of our Hurricane force in the last mision
yes you read right 1/6 of the Hurricanes gone after one mission
our next delivery of Hurricanes is not due until mission 6
when if all goes to plan we will have 18 delivered
but if we continue to lose them at tonights rate we will be finished by mission 7
So please fellow pilots lets account for the lost Hurricanes
Do your best to bring it home

Hurricane Losses in Mission 1:
102nd - 3 Hurricane
GIAP - 1 Hurricane
IAF - 6 Hurricane

Now for the DRAFT PLAN

IAF = 14
102nd = 8
EAF = 7
GIAP = 2
Petr + JG77 = 3 +1 reserve
Total = 34


Gibraltar CAP - 8 a/c
this should not be necesary but I dont trust the axis not to break the rules
4xBeaufighter - EAF
2xFulmar - 102nd
2xSea Hurricane - EAF


Malta CAP - 20 a/c
4xHurricane IIC - Petr + 2xJG77 + 1xEAF
4xHurrricand IIB - 4x102nd
12xHurricane IIA - 10xIAF + 2xGIAP


Sicily Airfield Attack - 4 a/c
4xWellington - IAF


Ship Attack - 2 a/c
2xSwordfish - 102nd


The plan
At Gibraltar the Sea Hurricanes will wait and only take off when the enemy approach
The Fulmars will climb as high as possible at mission start whilst the Beaus will go to 3000mtr
Any radar contact will be checked immediately they are seen
if bombers or high recon is detected the Sea Hurricanes will be scrambled
Main objective is to keep enemy a/c away from the ships

At Malta the IIB and IIC will takeoff and climb to 8000mtr at mission start
your sole purpose is to identify radar contacts as they appear, you are not to engage
After 20mins 4xHurricane IIA will takeoff and climb steadily
After 30mins the remaining 8xHurricane IIA will takeoff and climb

We have two offensive actions

4xWellingtons will bomb an enemy airfield targetting the parked aircraft
2xSwordfish will attack enemy shipping

More detailed briefing later this evening

All Hurricanes are defending Malta, the IIA are to wait on the ground until scrambled

IIC and IIB are to climb to 8000mtr and actively investigate every contact that approaches Malta

confirm the ID of the incoming and scramble the IIA if bombers are sighted

if fighters are present do not engage them
but use your position to 'push' them away whilst avoiding combat

Viff the IAF Wellingtons are to attack the axis airfield of Castelvetrano in sector BV25
the target is parked aircraft on the west side of the runway - see pic



The Fulmar are to patrol the area around Cap Serrat and Cape Bon to deter enemy recon planes

The Beaufigters will be in two pair, one pair staying with the Fulmar
the second pair moving towards Malta to join the CAP

Notice to all
Two flights of bombers are coming in late in the mission from the west

Godspeed