BLUF
The Scrap Iron Flotilla (named by Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels) refers to WW1-era Australian destroyers that, despite their age, played a crucial role in resupplying Australian troops besieged in Tobruk in WW2.Summary
Stephen Loosley writing in the Strategist, makes the following points:
- The ships were old but resilient.
- Flotilla operated in the strategically vital Mediterranean Sea.
- Helped the UK maintain access to the Suez Canal and the route to India and Australia.
- a German victory in North Africa would have closed the Suez canal to the allies.
References
- MILITARY HISTORY: INDEX of PAGES AND COLLECTIONS ON THE RAAF RUNWAY
- Captain Hector ‘Hec’ MacDonald Laws Waller-Navy
- JUL 2022 The Scrap Iron Flotilla-Australian Naval Institute
Source Information:
- Article Source: The Strategist | ASPI's analysis and commentary site (aspistrategist.org.au)
- Media Check: About the Strategist (No Media Bias Fact Check)
- RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, DIRECTIONS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- LINKS TO PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME) WEB PAGES | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
