 The convoy consisted two German vessels, SS "Duisburg" 7,889 gross register tonnage (GRT) and SS "San Marco" (3,113 GRT) and the Italian MV "Maria" (6,339 GRT), SS "Sagitta" (5,153 GRT) and MV "Rina Corrado" (5,180 GRT), carrying 389 vehicles, of munitions, fuel in barrels and troops for the Italian and German forces in Libya.The tankers "Conte di Misurata" (7,599 GRT) and "Minatitlan" (5,014 GRT) carried of fuel.A powerful escort was to arranged for the convoy operation to counter the British flotilla recently based at Malta.