Three Kings

At sea the Italians would initiate the first stage of the naval operation. The battleships Veneto, Roma and Littorio were staged from Naples with a strong escort of cruisers and destroyers. Their mission was to provide close artillery support and directly engage the harbor shore batteries. The distant covering force was staged from Taranto, and it was comprised of the battleships Cesare, Doria and Duilio with an equal escort force. It’s mission was to fend off the expected sortie of the British Navy from Alexandria, and the Admirals meeting to discuss the matter would not disappoint.

“We simply must get the navy out in support of Malta,” said Cunningham. “I see no other course. We were damn well chased out of Gibraltar when the Germans hit us there, and to let them pound Malta from the sea unchallenged is simply intolerable. My ships are ready. We were all set to have a go at Taranto, and now the Italians have put to sea. We should be right in their faces, and let them know who they are dealing with.”

“They won’t be alone,” said Tovey with a guarded edge in his voice. “I was just about to disclose the latest Enigma decrypts we received from Bletchley Park.”

At this Wavell raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently.

“As you may have heard, gentlemen, the Germans lately managed to slip two warships past our guard to French ports. When this conference was proposed I met with Admiral Somerville of Force H to aid in the planning of the occupation of the Atlantic islands, operations which we have lately concluded, all while keeping a watchful eye on the German ships at Brest and Saint Nazaire. Well, the foxes have slipped out of their dens. We were led to believe they were being recalled to Germany. Instead they turned south for Gibraltar, and with Somerville covering the operation in the Cape Verde Islands, there was nothing we could do about it. I departed for this conference, and the Germans were kind enough to sit tight at Gibraltar. Now I’m afraid the Germans are on the move again.”

“In the Atlantic?”

“No sir, in the Mediterranean…” Tovey let that sit there, allowing Wavell and Cunningham to appreciate the implications. I’ve Admiral Holland back with the Battlecruiser Squadron to look after the North Atlantic. Now, however, we have a new problem on our hands. The French pulled out of Dakar and reestablished their Atlantic Force de Raid at Casablanca-absent one ship, the battleship Normandie. It has moved into the Mediterranean as well, along with the German ships from Gibraltar, the Bismarck and Hindenburg. I must now report that these ships are moving east. Something is afoot, gentlemen, and this news of the attack on Malta is the root of it all. The reinforcement of your fleet is timely with the arrival of Invincible here.”

“Indeed,” said Admiral Cunningham. “This news, coupled with movement out of Toulon by the French squadron there, and movement by the Italians out of Taranto-well I’m afraid we have a real nightmare on our hands at the moment.”

“Correct,” said Tovey. “We now know that the battlecruisers Strasbourg and Dunkerque have sailed with that squadron from Toulon, and the Italians have sortied with at least three of the five battleships they had at Taranto. Simply counting the capital ships, we now find ourselves outnumbered two to one, even with Invincible thrown on the scales.”

“Welcome to the party, gentlemen,” said Wavell. “Our situation at sea is as precarious as our prospects for reinforcing Greece while trying to hold off the Germans in the Western Desert.”

“Precisely,” said Tovey. “You have not yet started moving troops to Greece, though I see the shipping gathered here in the harbor to do exactly that. I must tell you, General Wavell, that given these movements on the part of the enemy at sea, I do not believe the navy can dispose to cover your planned reinforcement operation for Greece until we can achieve at least parity with the enemy. Admiral Cunningham’s plan to catch them napping at Taranto was our bid to go one up on the Italians. Now, however, with the French and Germans weighing in, the whole balance of the war at sea in the Mediterranean is now on the fire. Naval supremacy would be much preferred for your movement to Greece, but being outnumbered eight to four in capital ships at the moment, we cannot give you that luxury, nor any assurance that your divisions will ever reach Greece safely.”

Tovey had played his hand, and Wavell listened, realizing that naval operations were at the heart of the matter, in spite of what Churchill wanted now, or what he had determined to do himself. If he could not move his divisions safely, then they would simply have to stay where they were.