REAL Malta supply situation in 1942

[Mechili]

If one scratches - even just incidentally - the surface of the Malta supply issue, one can't help feeling a strange sensation... that something simply doesn't add up.

According to some sources, each freighter that made it to Malta June through November 1942 carrying aviation fuel had an average 2,000 tons of that fuel aboard, in large drums. 2,000 tons could get RAF Malta airborne for one week. Given that only five such cargoes reached Malta over those six months - for a total of 10,000 tons, or five weeks of flight missions - the question arises, how could RAF Malta operate its many planes night and day, on short and long range missions, for 24 weeks (six months)? Lord Gort, in May 1942, wrote aviation fuel on Malta would last until mid-August. The amount of fuel delivered to Malta June to November looks totally inadequate to operate the increasingly large RAF force based on the island, yet somehow the aircraft flew their many missions and no crippling shortages grounded them at any time throughout...

Are the figures - the figures I come across, at least - wrong? Or the British actually stockpiled on Malta *much* more stuff than available statistics, charts and tables tell? Any enlightening remark or piece of information about the issue is welcome.

[Urmel]

2,000 tons sounds an awful lot. Thats almost 300 tons per day. The British estimated that the Axis airforces with their about 300 planes used about 120 tons a day during the early part of CRUSADER, and that involved flying longer distances, and a mix of multi-engined planes and single-engined fighters.

[OHara]

This is interesting. A gallon of aviation fuel weights about 7 pounds. A Spitfire uses, depending upon speed and elevation anywhere from 200 to 600 gallons/hour but their basic tank was only 85 gallons. (Google it.) Taking four weeks in January 1942 as a representative period, aircraft flying out of Malta conducted 466 sorties (AMWR Weekly Statistical Analysis). This does not include ferry missions. If an average sortie consumed 100 gallons that would equal 46,600 gallons of aviation fuel or 163 tons for a month of operations. I don't know if 100 gallons/sortie is accurate or not, but this does indicate that 2,000 tons per week is overstated.

Vince

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Mechili,

How much avgas was already on the island before June?

Cheers,

Sid.

[OHara]

According to Playfair (vol III, p. 156) at the end of 1941 "it was estimated that" aviation spirit would last "well into the summer." I read that as a seven month stock on 1 January 1942. I don't believe there was a true shortage of aviation fuel until autumn 1942 when flight operations were limited (in support of Torch, for example) to hoard enough fuel so that the Stoneage convoy would have ample fighter coverage

Vince

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi O'Hara,

Many thanks.

That then leaves open the question as to how much, if any, aviation fuel reached Malta over January-June 1942? All other things being equal, this would presumably allow operations beyond July.

Cheers,

Sid.

[Carl Schwamberger]

This is interesting. A gallon of aviation fuel weights about 7 pounds. A Spitfire uses, depending upon speed and elevation anywhere from 200 to 600 gallons/hour but their basic tank was only 85 gallons. (Google it.) Taking four weeks in January 1942 as a representative period, aircraft flying out of Malta conducted 466 sorties (AMWR Weekly Statistical Analysis). This does not include ferry missions. If an average sortie consumed 100 gallons that would equal 46,600 gallons of aviation fuel or 163 tons for a month of operations. I don't know if 100 gallons/sortie is accurate or not, but this does indicate that 2,000 tons per week is overstated.

Vince

IIRC from many years ago the 'shortage' was in terms of the full capcity of Maltas airfields and optimal flight ops with that many aircraft. The Brits wanted to operate as many squadrons as possible there, but of course the fuel, spares, & other support had to be in place as well. It made no sense to put the maximum capacity on the ground (if it were possible) & not have enough fuel reserve. Leaving X hundred aircraft grounded for lack of fuel made no sense. The bit I read on this made a comparison with the US air base on Guadalcanal. The air wing staff based there had to balance reinforcements against fuel at hand & estimated deliveries after enemy interdiction.

So, maybe examining the evidence from that perspective will help sort this question out. Good luck.

[CharlesRollinsWare]

Vince - A Spitfire does not use hundreds of gallons an hour, let alone 400 to 600 ... an Imperial gallon may weight 7 ponds (I don't use them), but a US gallon of AV Gas weighs 6 US pounds. Oil weighs in at 7 US pounds per gallon.

As for surface merchant ships bringing fuel to Malta - that is not all that came in. Surface warships and submarines also brought some fuel in - not that the later was anywhere near as substantial as what a surface ship could bring in.

Mark

[OHara]

Hey Mark,

How much av gas/hour would a Hurricane use? How about a Wellington? Do you know how long the typical sortie was for a fighter flying out of Malta?

Vince

[Urmel]

This should help:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... /r/C753541

[CharlesRollinsWare]

Vince;

I have a manual for the Hurricane II with the Merlin XX engine. This engine ran on 100 octane fuel only.

FUEL: The plane has three fuel tanks in the fuselage. Two main tanks with 33 gallons each, and one reserve tank with 28 gallons, a total of 94 gallons of AV gas. The plane had the capability of carrying two under wing fuel tanks as well. The fixed type (could not be jettisoned) held 44 gallons each for a total of 88 gallons. The dropable type (could be jettisoned) came in two sizes holding holding 45 or 90 gallons each, giving a total of 90 or 180 gallons respectively. These could extend the range/endurance considerably but the plane was NOT designed to fight with any type still affixed.

OIL. The plane held 9 gallons in the main tank. If 90 gallon (dropable) auxiliary fuel tanks were carried, a special 4 gallon reserve oil tank was affixed behind the pilot seat.

ENDURANCE: Contrary to what is often believed, all endurance figures all given in terms of Gallons used Per Hour based on engine rpm and boost. The chart for same is extensive [35 entries - seven MIXTURE/Supercharger/RPM settings, each five boost settings. I will give some highs and lows:

WEAK mixture, low gear supercharger setting, 8,000-20,000 feet
2000 rpm, -4 boost [max endurance cruise] 30 GPH
2300 rpm, 0 boost [average (?) cruise] 42 GPH
2650 rpm, +4 boost: 56 GPH

WEAK mixture, high gear supercharger setting, 14,000-30,000 feet
2000 rpm, -4 boost [max endurance cruise] 31 GPH
2300 rpm, 0 boost [average (?) cruise] 43 GPH
2650 rpm, +4 boost: 57 GPH

RICH mixture:
2,650 rpm, +7 boost: 80 GPH
2,850 rpm, +9 boost: 95 GPH
3,000 rpm, +9 boost: 100 GPH
3,000 rpm, +12 boost: 115 GPH

Thus, without any drop tanks the plane had a maximum endurance of about 2.5 hours after takeoff and a moderate climb and then cruising at best endurance power to less than 1 hour after takeoff, and climb followed by extended full power combat.

I don't have anything on Spitfires or any land-based bomber types. My main interest is the Fleet Air Arm from 1939-42, a period when they used Skuas, Sea Gladiators, Sea Hurricanes, Swordfish, and Albacores.

I hope this is of interest.

Mark

[OHara]

Yes Mark, it's of interest. Thank you for taking the time to transcribe this.

Vince

[CharlesRollinsWare]

Vince;

After all the stuff YOU SHARE - happy to do it!

Mark