Victualling of Malta-based navies

Abstract

Documentation of naval history often dwells upon the actions of various frigates, the famous sea battles, or the heroic actions of the various naval commanders in bygone days. The social aspects and day-to-day management of ship organisation is often neglected or considered unimportant. Naval victualling may appear at first sight a dull enough subject, but a moment's reflection shows its vital importance in promoting the health, morale, and therefore the efficiency of a ship's company. The geography of the Mediterranean with the relatively short distances between the various ports should have given little problems in ensuring that the ships stationed in the Mediterranean were well provisioned, however several serious problems were encountered on account of the large concentration of men out to sea for long cruises without touching land.