Waxad sii qortaa faqradan - "Barham", laba markab oo nooca raaxada ah, iyo saddex markab oo nooca raaxada ah oo sidoo kale loo qoondeeyay Ciidanka Badda Mediterranean-ka ayaa loo magacaabay Ciidanka F oo qayb ka ah Howlgalka Coat, oo ka mid ah taxanaha dhaqdhaqaaqyada maraakiibta ee Mediterranean-ka. Markabka dagaalka iyo maraakiibta kale ee Ciidanka F ayaa loo xilsaaray inay ciidamada u qaadaan Malta, ka hor inta aysan ku sii socon Alexandria. "Barham" waxaa lagu soo raray 600 oo askari, oo ay ku jiraan ragga ka tirsan 12 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Force F ayaa ka tagay Gibraltar 7 Nofeembar, oo ay weheliso Force H, waxay la kulmeen qeybta ugu weyn ee Mediterranean Fleet saddex maalmood ka dib waxayna xamuulkooda ka dejiyeen Malta maalintaas. Intii ay bari u sii socotay, markabkii xambaarsanaa diyaaradaha ayaa laga soo gooyay markabkii ugu weynaa si uu u weeraro Taranto
Habeenkii 11/12 Nofembar, waxay waxyeelo u geysteen saddex markab oo Talyaani ah. "Barham", oo hadda loo qoondeeyay 1st BS, iyo "Malaya" ayaa loo qoondeeyay inay shidaal ku sii daayaan Souda Bay, Crete, ka hor inta aysan u dhoofin Alexandria, halkaas oo ay gaareen 14 Nofembar.