Operation Request

'Request' was a British naval undertaking by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham’s Mediterranean Fleet to deliver supplies to Major General R. N. O’Connor’s Western Desert Force at Mersa Matruh on the Western Desert coast of North Africa (November 1940).

The undertaking was designed to aid in the enlargement of the quantity of supplies being stockpiled in preparation for the initial 'Compass' offensive planned by General Sir Archibald Wavell, the commander-in-chief Middle East, to be launched on 6/7 December to expel the Italian forces for their first and wholly tentative offensive into north-western Egypt.