Operation MB8 moved a battle fleet, reinforcements, troop transports, stores, and several convoys through the central and eastern Mediterranean. Ajax and Sydney carried troops and guns to Souda Bay, while Orion transported Royal Air Force personnel to Athens. Merchant ships sailed among Alexandria, Port Said, Malta, Crete, and Greece under cruiser, destroyer, and escort protection. An Admiralty operational history and assessment provides an after-action source for comparing bombing methods and the operation's execution. Sustaining several garrisons and campaigns required many interlocking movements. Operation Judgement depended on this theatre logistics system to create an offensive opportunity without abandoning routine reinforcement and supply.
Chapter · 31:30-33:46
Operation MB8 as a fleet logistics system
Operation Judgment sat inside the much larger MB8 movement of battle fleets, reinforcements, troops, stores, convoys, and raiding forces.