Club Run
Encyclopedia
"Club Run" was an informal name for aircraft supply operations to the besieged island of Malta
during the Second World War
. Malta was the object of determined Axis
attempts in 1941-1942 to either force the British military authorities to surrender or to destroy its effectiveness as a military base. The island's significance was as a forward base from which Axis supplies to their north African armies could be attacked. It is a measure of Malta's importance that Britain reassigned fighter aircraft from home defence.
"Club Runs" were covered by Force H
, based at Gibraltar
(called "The Club"), it consisted of the battlecruiser
, aircraft carrier
, light cruiser
and the "F"-class
destroyer
s of the 8th Flotilla. Its Mediterranean operations were called "Club Runs". It was deemed to be an exclusive club of the most efficient warships in the Royal Navy. A mythical "regimental tie" was designed for members of "The Club", consisting of a Mediterranean grey field, scattered with raspberries.
Malta's air defences were essential and aircraft reinforcements and replacements were a constant need. Fighter
s (Hawker Hurricane
s and Supermarine Spitfire
s) and torpedo bomber
s (Fairey Swordfish
and Albacore
s) were required, but they lacked the range to fly direct from the British base at Gibraltar. The solution was for aircraft carriers to move within range and then "fly-off" fighters to land at a Maltese airfield.
At the outbreak of war, the opinion of the Chiefs of Staff
was that Malta was indefensible and this view was supported by a later review that stated: "there is nothing practicable that we can do to increase the powers of resistance of Malta". Winston Churchill
disagreed. In July 1940, he insisted that Hurricanes be flown in "at the earliest moment". This led to the first "Club Run", Operation Hurry, using the old carrier .
The Axis air forces developed measures to counter the "Club Runs" — attacking the aircraft while in transit and catching them on the ground before they could be armed and refuelled. Forty of the Spitfires delivered by the American
carrier (Operation Calendar
) were destroyed on the ground but in the following operation (Bowery
) the Luftwaffe
were outwitted and British fighters were airborne and ready for their opponents.
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In their turn, the carriers became prime targets and required more heavily protected and
complex operations to ensure success. Despite this, the British carrier HMS Ark Royal was sunk, and the American carrier USS Wasp was loaned for "Club Runs" in April and May 1942.
Aircraft losses over Malta were such that the replenishment "Club Runs" became a constant conveyor belt of aircraft ferried to Gibraltar where they were transferred to carriers for flying off while more were ferried from Britain. Additional capacity was created by transporting aircraft in crates and assembling them at Gibraltar or on board carriers. In this way, one ferry run from Britain would deliver enough aircraft for two flying-off operations.
From early 1942, Spitfires were necessary to counter the more modern German fighters that outclassed the robust but outdated Hurricanes. On several occasions, however, there were faults with the external fuel tanks that were needed to give the required range. As a result, two "Club Runs" were aborted and had to be repeated after modifications at Gibraltar, Calendar delivered inadequately prepared aircraft that fell prey to bombing on Malta and Bowery′s 64 Spitfires required adaptions to the external fuel tanks while on board USS Wasp. The failure to rectify a fault over several deliveries for a critical purpose in hazardous circumstances is unexplained but was described as "embarrassing".
From October, 1942, modified Spitfire Mk VCs with additional internal and external fuel tanks and most armament removed were capable of flying the 1100 mi (1,770.3 km) from Gibraltar to Malta. The modifications were reversed in Malta. This removed the need for "Club Runs".
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Malta was the object of determined Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
attempts in 1941-1942 to either force the British military authorities to surrender or to destroy its effectiveness as a military base. The island's significance was as a forward base from which Axis supplies to their north African armies could be attacked. It is a measure of Malta's importance that Britain reassigned fighter aircraft from home defence.
"Club Runs" were covered by Force H
Force H
Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany....
, based at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
(called "The Club"), it consisted of the battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
, aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
and the "F"-class
E and F class destroyer
The E and F class was a class of 18 destroyers of the Royal Navy that served during the Second World War. Three ships were later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, one to the Royal Hellenic Navy and one to the Dominican Navy. Launched in 1934, they served in the Second World War. Nine were lost...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s of the 8th Flotilla. Its Mediterranean operations were called "Club Runs". It was deemed to be an exclusive club of the most efficient warships in the Royal Navy. A mythical "regimental tie" was designed for members of "The Club", consisting of a Mediterranean grey field, scattered with raspberries.
Malta's air defences were essential and aircraft reinforcements and replacements were a constant need. Fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
s (Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s and Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s) and torpedo bomber
Torpedo bomber
A torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
s (Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
and Albacore
Fairey Albacore
The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a three-man crew and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as delivering...
s) were required, but they lacked the range to fly direct from the British base at Gibraltar. The solution was for aircraft carriers to move within range and then "fly-off" fighters to land at a Maltese airfield.
At the outbreak of war, the opinion of the Chiefs of Staff
Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of the most senior military personnel in the British Armed Forces.-History:The Chiefs of Staff Committee was initially established as a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1923. It remained as such until the abolition of the CID upon the...
was that Malta was indefensible and this view was supported by a later review that stated: "there is nothing practicable that we can do to increase the powers of resistance of Malta". Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
disagreed. In July 1940, he insisted that Hurricanes be flown in "at the earliest moment". This led to the first "Club Run", Operation Hurry, using the old carrier .
The Axis air forces developed measures to counter the "Club Runs" — attacking the aircraft while in transit and catching them on the ground before they could be armed and refuelled. Forty of the Spitfires delivered by the American
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
carrier (Operation Calendar
Operation Calendar
Operation Calendar in 1942 was an Anglo-American operation in World War II to deliver Spitfire fighter aircraft to Malta. The aircraft were desperately needed to bolster the island's defence against strong Axis air raids.-Background:...
) were destroyed on the ground but in the following operation (Bowery
Operation Bowery
Operation Bowery was an Anglo-American operation in World War II to deliver Spitfire fighter aircraft to Malta . The aircraft were desperately needed to bolster the island's defence against strong Axis air raids.-Background:...
) the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
were outwitted and British fighters were airborne and ready for their opponents.
complex operations to ensure success. Despite this, the British carrier HMS Ark Royal was sunk, and the American carrier USS Wasp was loaned for "Club Runs" in April and May 1942.
Aircraft losses over Malta were such that the replenishment "Club Runs" became a constant conveyor belt of aircraft ferried to Gibraltar where they were transferred to carriers for flying off while more were ferried from Britain. Additional capacity was created by transporting aircraft in crates and assembling them at Gibraltar or on board carriers. In this way, one ferry run from Britain would deliver enough aircraft for two flying-off operations.
From early 1942, Spitfires were necessary to counter the more modern German fighters that outclassed the robust but outdated Hurricanes. On several occasions, however, there were faults with the external fuel tanks that were needed to give the required range. As a result, two "Club Runs" were aborted and had to be repeated after modifications at Gibraltar, Calendar delivered inadequately prepared aircraft that fell prey to bombing on Malta and Bowery′s 64 Spitfires required adaptions to the external fuel tanks while on board USS Wasp. The failure to rectify a fault over several deliveries for a critical purpose in hazardous circumstances is unexplained but was described as "embarrassing".
From October, 1942, modified Spitfire Mk VCs with additional internal and external fuel tanks and most armament removed were capable of flying the 1100 mi (1,770.3 km) from Gibraltar to Malta. The modifications were reversed in Malta. This removed the need for "Club Runs".
List of "Club Run" operations
- August 1940 - Operation Hurry: 12 Hurricanes flown off HMS Argus
- November 1940 - Operation Coat: off HMS Ark Royal 3 Fulmars for HMS Illustrious
- November 1940 - Operation WhiteOperation WhiteOperation White was a British attempt to deliver 14 aircraft—12 Hawker Hurricane fighters and two Blackburn Skua dive bombers—to Malta from the aircraft carrier , on 17 November 1940. The operation was thwarted by the presence of the Italian Fleet at sea, which prompted a premature take-off of the...
: 12 Hurricanes flown off Argus, 8 lost en route after running out of fuel
- April 1941 - Operation Winch: 12 Hurricane IIs flown off Ark Royal
- April 1941 - Operation Dunlop: 22 Hurricanes flown off Ark Royal
- May 1941 - Operation Splice: 48 Hurricane IIs flown off Furious and Ark Royal
- June 1941 - Operation Rocket: 35 Hurricane IIs flown off Furious and Ark Royal
- June 1941 - Operation Tracer: HMS Ark Royal and Victorious flew off 47 Hurricanes to Malta
- June 1941 - Operation Railway I: 22 Hurricanes flown off Ark Royal
- June 1941 - Operation Railway II: 35 Hurricanes off Ark Royal and Furious (7 not launched due to deck accident)
- September 1941 - Operation Status I: 26 Hurricanes flown off Ark Royal
- September 1941 - Operation Status II: 46 Hurricanes flown off Ark Royal and Furious
- October 1941 - Operation Callboy: 11 Albacores and 2 Swordfish flown off Ark Royal
- November 1941 - Operation Perpetual: 37 Hurricanes flown off Ark Royal and Argus (10–12 November 1941) On the return leg, Ark Royal was torpedoed by U-81 and sunk a day later; Perpetual II cancelled.
- February 1942 - Operation Spotter I: 15 Spitfire Mk VBs off HMS Eagle aborted due to fuel tank fault
- March 1942 - Operation Spotter II: 15 Spitfire Mk VBs flown off Eagle
- March 1942 - Operation Picket I: 9 Spitfires off Eagle aborted due to fuel tank fault
- March 1942 - Operation Picket II: 7 Spitfires flown off Eagle and Argus; 6 Albacores unable to fly off Argus
- April 1942 - Operation Calendar: 48 Spitfires flown off from USS WaspMost of these aircraft were destroyed on the ground by bombing.
- May 1942 - Operation Bowery 64 Spitfires: flown off USS Wasp and HMS Eagle (61 arrived).
- May 1942 - Operation LB: 17 Spitfires flown off Eagle; 6 Albacores again failed to fly off
- June 1942 - Operation Style: 32 Spitfires flown off HMS Eagle. Twenty-eight of them arrived safely, four shot down en route.
- June 1942 – Operation Salient: 32 Spitfires from HMS Eagle
- June 1942 - Operation Pinpoint: 31 Spitfires flown off Eagle
- July 1942 - Operation Insect: 28 Spitfires flown off Eagle
- August 1942 - Operation Bellows: 39 Spitfires flown off Furious
- August 1942 - Operation Baritone: 32 Spitfires flown off Furious
- October 1942 – Operation Train: 29 Spitfires flown off Furious