Key Facts
- Dates
- 31 July – 4 August 1940
- Fighters delivered
- 12 Hurricane Mk I
- Launch vessel
- HMS Argus
- Target raided
- Elmas airfield, Sardinia
- Escort aircraft
- 2 Skuas of the Fleet Air Arm
Strategic Narrative Overview
Force H sailed from Gibraltar with HMS Argus, which flew off twelve Hurricane Mk I fighters guided by two Fleet Air Arm Skuas toward Malta. Simultaneously, Force H raided Elmas airfield in Sardinia, and HMS Enterprise conducted a deception operation. The Mediterranean Fleet carried out diversionary movements in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea to confuse Italian forces and reduce pressure on the main operation.
01 / The Origins
By mid-1940 Malta faced intense Italian air attack and desperately needed fighter reinforcements. Britain's direct sea route through the Mediterranean was contested, making it impossible to deliver aircraft by conventional means. The solution was to fly Hurricanes off an aircraft carrier within range of Malta, inaugurating a series of such missions. Operation Hurry was the first of these 'Club Runs,' combining aircraft delivery with opportunistic offensive action against Italian targets.
03 / The Outcome
All twelve Hurricanes reached Malta, reinforcing its defenses. Elmas airfield was bombed and Italian bomber raids were deterred by anti-aircraft fire and Skuas from HMS Ark Royal. British ships suffered only one dud bomb hit and some near-misses, while the Regia Marina's battle fleet did not leave port. The operation revealed the Regia Aeronautica to be less capable than anticipated, encouraging future Club Runs.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.