 The Duisburg (BETA) Convoy, the 51st German–Italian sailing since 8 February, departed from Naples on 7 November and Force K sailed the next day, forewarned by the British success in reading Italian cyphers concerning Axis shipping movements in the Mediterranean.A British reconnaissance aircraft was dispatched to "find" the convoy as camouflage.Force K made north-east of Malta, with "Aurora" leading the ships in line-ahead.