 Bringing the battleship and several aircraft carriers from the Eastern Fleet to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet was considered but the danger of air attack was so great that it was rejected.The convoy and escort force was larger than the effort in March, with Force A, the as flagship and the cruisers , of the 15th Cruiser Squadron and from the Eastern Fleet, provided the convoy escort with four 5.25-inch light cruisers and the anti-aircraft cruiser .The Eastern Fleet sent the 6-inch cruisers , and of the 4th Cruiser Squadron.