 Six freighters in Vigorous and Harpoon had been sunk and nine forced to return to port.Two ships of Operation Harpoon reached Malta and delivered of supplies, which with a decent harvest might keep the population of Malta fed until September but the depletion of aviation fuel led to fighters being give priority over the offensive force.Transit flights through Malta except for Beauforts was suspended, only close range air attacks on easy targets were to be permitted and fuel for the fighters was to be carried to Malta by submarine.