They then opened up the small harbours as they came to them.
On the 12th November Tobruk was taken and as usual the A Lighters were working to unload supplies of all
sorts in order to keep the momentum of the advance going. Benghazi was then liberated but before it could become operational
there was a violent storm and many ships were lost including 3 A Lighters.
At this time there were 18 A Lighters working with the Army - probably all the craft which were in a satisfactory operational state.
Montgomery said that it was essential that he get to Tripoli before too much demolition damage was done and so Cunningham guaranteed
to have supplies waiting for him when he arrived there.
A convoy of transports was prepared at Alex and 12 A Lighters were loaded up at Benghazi with petrol. They all arrived at Tripoli
before the 8th Army took control of the port. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of British frogmen the Germans more or less managed
to place block-ships across the harbour entrance. Petrol was urgently required and so 4 A Lighters were sent to unload at a fish quay
outside the main harbour. A storm however arose and the 4 craft were damaged but not sunk.
Despite the bad weather the salvage group managed to clear the harbour entrance after about 12 days so that MLs could enter and
sweep for mines. The A Lighters then entered and gradually larger and larger vessels were able to enter. Once the harbour was operational
(in spite of the heavy bombing, circling torpedoes, mines etc.) such that Montgomery could obtain a good flow of supplies the battle was as
good as won.
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