Force K's success prompted demands to put more ships at Malta, although expansion carried a serious downside. More ships created crowding and made movements more predictable, forcing the force to spend more time at sea. Harbour congestion altered patrol patterns rather than simply reducing comfort or storage space. That operational pressure helps explain the vulnerability that culminated in the minefield disaster.
Notable Point · 2:03:31-2:03:55
Why more ships at Malta could make Force K weaker
Malta's confined harbour made a small, coherent raiding force easier to conceal and employ than an ever-larger squadron.