So far I have been limiting my study as to whether the Italians could meet such a deadline and with what. Yet now I’m considering the British response, beginning with Admiral Cunningham:
Cunningham’s response (Alexandria):
1) Would Cunningham await orders from the Admiralty? No.
2) Would he sail to Malta to engage the Italian landing? Yes.
3) What would he sail with? 3 BB’s (Warspite, Malaya, Ramillies), 5 CL, 16 DD’s (no minesweepers. They’d slow him down and he only has to stay in deep water to avoid mines.)
4) Time to raise steam: 1-4 hours.
5) Time to develop a sailing plan: The same 4 hours of #3.
6) Sailing time from Alexandria to Fort Campbell area: 53 hours at 19 knots (Should I use a different speed? I based this on Ramillies.)
Cunningham’s reinforcements:
1) Cunningham had two battalions of the 6th Infantry Division available. Would he order them assembled? Yes.
2) If yes, how would he transport them? By two cruisers (Liverpool and Gloucester) or three fast transports? Time to load?
3) Time of reinforcement troop’s arrival? Escorted by what?
Have I made any mistakes above? Left anything out?
Somerville’s response (Gibraltar)
1) Would Somerville await Admiralty orders? Yes.
2) Somerville has naval reinforcements for Cunningham. Would he still plan for them to sail? Yes.
3) Somerville would send the naval reinforcements with their original planned escort, letting them rendezvous south of Malta with Cunningham to provide their escort balance.
4) Somerville has a planned bombardment of Cagliari. Canceled or not? Not canceled.
British Admiralty’s response:
1) Decision to call off HATS or delay? Reasons to call off include Malta was considered unsafe for surface ships and they were moved to Alexandria. This decision was repeated with the withdrawal of the sub base on Malta on June 21 and Cunningham’s taking off civilians in July without adding any more troops to Malta. Defending the island became a consideration only in August. Knowing Italian paratroopers and troops were already landing, they would have to debate the result of what would happen if Valletta fell before their destroyers arrived and could refuel. A 24 hour delay could be granted HATS as it would still arrive under cover of a new moon.
2) Send Somerville to support Cunningham? Yes. But only by executing the planned attack on Cagliari. I doubt Somerville would approve taking his DD’s to Malta without an assurance of fuel.
So somebody straighten me out on my mistakes.
