 Loaded Axis ships sailing to Africa accounted for 90 percent of the losses and Malta-based squadrons were responsible for about 75 percent of ships sunk by aircraft.In October 1941 the British re-established a flotilla of surface ships at Malta (Force K) for the first time since April and a force of Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers.Italian air reconnaissance discovered the ships on 21 October and cancelled sailings for Tripoli, leaving only the inferior facilities at Benghazi open.