Political urgency got ships away quickly, but stores had not always been loaded in the reverse order needed for an amphibious assault. Repacking at Ascension corrected access to ammunition, fuel, spares, and other supplies needed first. Expeditionary combat depends on auxiliaries, replacement ships, maintenance rotation, and protected supply lines. Modern RFA numbers and self-defense remain serious constraints because slow, indispensable auxiliaries cannot evade threats as readily as aircraft tankers.
Chapter · 15:27-19:55
Ascension exposed the cost of rushed assault loading
The task force had to repack hurriedly loaded ships at Ascension before sustaining an operation eight thousand miles from Britain.