Why fast minelayers mattered at Malta

How useful were the Abdiel-class fast minelayers, and why were they not simply attached to Force K?

Their speed suited both intended Far East mining and Malta resupply, and the latter task kept them outside Force K's normal composition.

The Abdiels were designed to reach the Far East quickly and mine approaches to Singapore, a mission that demanded exceptional speed. Their roughly 45-knot performance could leave even their destroyer escorts behind and would have made one a dangerous addition to Force K. War redirected them to the Mediterranean, where fast minelayers helped sustain Malta. That logistics role was important enough that they were not normally absorbed into Force K's combat group.