German tankers such as Esso Hamburg enabled long-range surface operations, but British intelligence and patrols progressively destroyed this support network. After sinking several unescorted ships, the battleships had expended substantial 11-inch ammunition that they could not replace at sea. Lütjens broke radio silence to arrange replenishment of supplies near the Azores. Captured merchant sailors were transferred to supply ships, with the cited action producing many more prisoners than deaths. When HMS Malaya protected convoy SL 67, Lütjens again avoided a capital-ship fight. He shadowed the convoy and directed U-124 and U-105 toward it, using surface reconnaissance to support a submarine attack. Malaya advanced from the convoy and nearly brought the raiders into a close action.
Notable Point · 2:47:50-2:52:25
Operation Berlin depended on tankers, ammunition economy, and U-boat cooperation
Lütjens's raiders needed a vulnerable supply network, expended irreplaceable heavy ammunition against merchants, handled captured crews, and redirected U-boats when Malaya blocked another convoy attack.