Hawker Hurricane and then Supermarine Spitfire fighters were flown to Malta from aircraft carriers on Club Runs from Gibraltar towards Malta. In 1942, the British assembled large flotillas of warships to escort Malta convoys, sent fast warships to make solo runs to the island and organised Magic Carpet supply runs by submarine. British and Allied ships were attacked by the Italian Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) and Regia Marina (Royal Navy) in 1940 and from 1941, by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and Kriegsmarine (German Navy). British convoys were escorted to Malta by ships of the Mediterranean Fleet, Force H and aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force, during the Battle of the Mediterranean (1940–1943). The civilian population and the garrison required imports of food, medical supplies, fuel and equipment the military forces on the island needed reinforcements, ammunition and spare parts. The strategic value of Malta was so great the British risked many merchant vessels and warships to supply the island and the Axis made determined efforts to neutralise the island as an offensive base. Britain fought the Western Desert Campaign against Axis armies in North Africa to keep the Suez Canal and to control Middle Eastern oil. Malta was a base from which British sea and air forces could attack ships carrying supplies from Europe to Italian Libya. The convoys took place during the Siege of Malta in the Mediterranean Theatre. The Malta convoys were Allied supply convoys of the Second World War. ² - Involved an Axis convoy or delivery mission ¹ - Involved an Allied convoy or delivery mission
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