Malta 1940

[vinnye]

Would the RN have used the Swordfish during daylight or were they able to operate at night?
If they were nigh time capable, then the Italian Navy would have a real phobia of getting into a shooting match with the RN - who had already shown their superiority at night with their radar.

 

[parsifal]

Its not the aircraft so much as the crews. Swordfish from 1941 were being fitted with ASV radar that did enhance their ability to find things in conditions of poor visibility, however the attacks themselves generally until quite late in the war were done visually with the aid of flares.

ASV will help but its the training and operational techniques that makes the difference. Not all CAGs were trained for Night Operations, but in 1940, Eagle, Illustrious and Ark Royal all had night capable crews.

Illustrious delivered the taranto attack at night, and the attack on Bismarck were mostly in the half light of twight and with low cloud cover and poor visibility to boot. Somerville planned to use his Swordfish and Albacores in Night counterstrikes during the Japanese Indian Ocean raids

 

[vinnye]

Thanks for the information Parsifal, having the night time capability is a real bonus and would be a major worry for your opponent.

 

[stug3]

The remains of a Gloster Sea Gladiator, which formerly flew with the Malta Fighter Flight and No. 261 Squadron RAF, lies by the side of the airfield at Ta Kali, Malta. In the background is a parked Hawker Hurricane Mark I, W9133, of No. 261 Squadron

 

[stug3]

With invasion an immediate threat, Instructors address troops from a Matilda tank in distinctive Malta camouflage.

 

[parsifal]

any idea when the shot of the matilda was taken?

 

[stug3]

April 1942 maltagc70.com

 

[vinnye]

Has that Matilda got a different turret on it?
Does not look normal to me!

 

[stug3]

Yeah, it does look different. Maybe some type of command or communications variant.

 

[vinnye]

Just found this site - good info on Matilda variants and deployment.
Infantry Tank Mk.II Matilda (A12)

 

[Ascent]

I think the turret is a normal one but it's turned directly away from the camera so you're seeing it from an unusual angle compared to the hull.

 

[vinnye]

You could be right, but to me it looks too tall?

 

[stug3]

Matilda IIA Mk III at Malta, 1942. These tanks have a particularly unique livery, with large spots of sand color over an olive green factory color. The most well known is the "Griffin", of the 4th independent tank platoon of the Malta tank squadron, RTR.

 

[parsifal]

great looking tank IMO. Pity the tureet ring was too small for much improvement.

I think the Matilda was the best tank until the T-34....despite the limits of its gun

 

[stug3]

RAF Spitfire V takes off from USS Wasp (CV-7) after a 200-foot run, May 1942. Probably taken during Wasp's second Malta aircraft ferry mission.

 

[stug3]

Ground crew refuel a Spitfire Mark VC of No. 601 Squadron RAF, using four-gallon petrol tins, in a sandbagged revettment at Luqa, Malta, while two armourers service the Spitfire's cannon. In the cockpit, conferring with other squadron personnel, is Flight Lieutenant Dennis Barnham.

 

[parsifal]

the poms came to regret those flimsy 4 gallon drums....too easily pierced and prone to leakage, no adequate seal at the fill point. Much fuel was lost because of them. the German "jerry can" was a much better proposition

 

[Ascent]

There's a reason those petrol tins were known as 'flimsys'.

 

[fastmongrel]

Expediency as always meant the 4 gallon flimsy was better for Britain early on. A Jerry can needs big pressing and welding equipment to make it in a big factory. A 4 gall Flimsy is sheet metal soldered together and could be made in a small workshop by anyone with Guillotine, a bending jig and a gas or electricity supply for the soldering iron. Until US supplies of welding and pressing machinery became widely available what welding and pressing plants that were available were too busy making things like ships and steel helmets (just 2 examples I thought of). Part of the Flimsys problem with leaking is that they were supposed to be one use but often because of shortages were re-used and throwing an empty can in the back of a lorry to be sent back to base along desert roads wasnt what it was designed for.

 

[vinnye]

Also, that is why whenever they were captured, Jerry cans were put to good use by the Brits!