Operation Excess was a sequence of supply convoys to Malta, Alexandria and Greece in January 1941. Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria Αλεξάνδρεια (in Arabic, الإسكندرية, transliterated al-ʼIskandariyyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the capital of the Al Iskandariyah governate. ...

On the 6th, convoy Excess (MC 4) left Gibraltar for Malta and Greece, covered by the Gibraltar based Force H. Simultaneously, the Mediterranean Fleet from Alexandria covered more supply ships (convoy MW 5.5) from Alexandria to Malta and then a returning empty convoy (ME 5.5). The cruisers HMS Gloucester and Southampton, detached from the Mediterranean Fleet, carried troop reinforcements to Malta and then continued westwards to meet 'Excess'. Force H then returned to Gibraltar. Force H was a British naval squadron during World War II. 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. ... Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. ... Eleven vessels, and one planned, of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Gloucester, after Gloucester, the city in England. ... Six Royal Navy ships have borne the name HMS Southampton, named for the great port of Southampton on the south coast of England. ...

The first convoy sailed from Gibraltar on January 6, taking war materiel to the besieged island of Malta. It had a strong naval escort, including the aircraft carrier Illustrious, and became the first action that involved the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean, after the transfer of X Fliegerkorps to support the Italian Regia Aeronautica. Materiel (from the French for material) is the equipment and supplies in Military and commercial supply chain management. ... An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... The fourth HMS Illustrious (R87) of the Royal Navy was an aircraft carrier, arguably the one with the most distinguished and vital career of this proud lineage. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (help· info) (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafə]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in...

During an attack on the convoy on 10th January, the Italian torpedo boat Vega was sunk in the Strait of Sicily by the cruiser HMS Bonaventure and the destroyer HMS Hereward. The British destroyer HMS Gallant struck a mine near Pantelleria. Although towed to Malta, Gallant was irreparable, and she was finally lost during Axis bombing in April 1942. Illustrious was seriously damaged by bombs, after emergency repairs in Malta, she reached Alexandria on January 25. A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... The Strait of Sicily is the strait between Sicily and Tunisia. ... HMS Hereward (H93), named after Hereward the Wake, was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the High Walker Yard of Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 28 February 1935, launched on 10 March 1936 and commissioned on 9 December 1936. ... HMS Gallant (H59) was a G-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan in Scotland on 15 September 1934, launched on 26 September 1935 and completed on 25 February 1936. ... A naval mine is a stationary self-contained explosive device placed in water, to destroy ships and/or submarines. ... Location of Pantelleria. ...

On 11th January, air attacks sank the cruiser HMS Southampton, while returning to Alexandria with empty ships. Its sister ship, HMS Gloucester was damaged, but survived. Six Royal Navy ships have borne the name HMS Southampton, named for the great port of Southampton on the south coast of England. ... Eleven vessels, and one planned, of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Gloucester, after Gloucester, the city in England. ...

No merchantmen were lost during Excess but the Royal Navy lost two cruisers and a destroyer. The Illustriouswas out of action for several months and the British had lost their freedom of action in the Mediterranean, as a result of the German intervention.

Operation Excess: Italian torpedo boats unsuccessfully attack convoy MC 4, Force B, and Force F off Pantelleria

Operation Excess: Italian torpedo boat Vega sunk by RN cruiser Bonaventure

Operation Excess: Italian submarine Settimo unsuccessfully attacks convoy MC 4, Force B, and Force F off Pantelleria

Operation Excess: RN DD Gallant damaged by Italian mine in Sicilian Channel and towed to Malta

Operation Excess: German and Italian bombers score six hits on RN carrier Illustrious which limps into Malta

Operation Excess: German and Italian bombers score one hit on RN battleship Warspite

 Malta 

Operation Excess: Convoy MC 4 from Gibraltar and MW 5.5 from Egypt arrive Malta

Operation Excess: Convoy ME 5.5 departs Malta for Alexandria

Operation Excess: Convoy ME 6 departs Malta for Alexandria