Operation Splice and carrier aircraft transfer

At Gibraltar on 18 May, Furious and Ark Royal berthed stern to stern and used a timber ramp to transfer 20 Hurricanes and five Fulmars between their flight decks. Repeated transfers had made the procedure routine, and the ships departed the following day. Reusable bridge sections kept ashore are a plausible explanation for the speed of the work, although photographic confirmation is lacking and the interpretation remains disputed. The two carriers launched 48 Hurricanes toward Malta with five Fulmars to guide them, while three Martin Marylands flew from Malta as additional escorts. Forty-six Hurricanes arrived, one crashed near Cape Bon, and one was reported missing. The Fulmars continued to Formidable, while the Marylands remained based on Malta. Force H had brought the aircraft within flying range while staying beyond the strongest Italian threat area.