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While the Royal Navy was besting its Italian counterpart at sea and while the Australian 7th Division was fighting in Syria, troops of the Australian 9th Division and 18th Brigade (7th Division) were defending Tobruk against the advance of Rommel's Afrika Korps and Italian divisions. With the Luftwaffe dominant in the sky and the town besieged, the only avenue of relief and supply was by sea through the harbour. During the eight-month siege the navy provided a vital lifeline, undertaking hazardous forays by night and day, often under aerial attack, to deliver reinforcements, supply the troops and evacuate the sick and wounded. Here the destroyers of the RAN, the famous 'scrap iron flotilla' made their name as part of the convoys which kept up the sea lifeline to the beleaguered defenders.
Two RAN destroyers were sunk. The Waterhen was attacked by dive-bombers on 28 June 1941 near Salum and was the first Australian warship lost although fortunately with no loss of life. HMAS Parramatta was torpedoed by the U-559 and sank in minutes losing 23 men. The Stuart, Napier, Nizam, Vampire, Vendetta and Voyager all participated in these constant convoys. The Vendetta made thirty-nine sorties to Tobruk.
Japan's entry into the war heralded the recall of RAN ships to the defence of Australia and closed the Australian chapter of the Mediterranean involvement. The RAN left the Mediterranean with the highest respect of both Cunningham and the British fleet.
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