ABSTRACT
Tedder and Auchinleck proved extremely compatible, it having been suggested to Tedder that he should 'if possible, combine with him against Cunningham', as 'it seems unlikely that Cunningham will work well with Tedder'. Alexandria was subjected to heavy enemy air attacks, which led to cessations of work, making it difficult for ships to go to sea. Following the loss of Ark Royal in November 1941, it became impossible to despatch convoys from Gibraltar. During the next hour, Vian's forces made smoke, dashing in and out of it to fire sporadically at the enemy; though the weather gauge favoured the British, accurate fire was difficult in the heavy seas. The action had delayed the convoy and pushed it far to the south, thus bringing it well within range of enemy bombers on the following day. Nevertheless, Rommel considered that ‘the fighting strength of the British forces on Malta represented the most difficult problem’.
