'Maiden' was a British plan to deceive the Axis powers about the launch date for the planned summer offensive of Lieutenant General N. M. Ritchie’s British 8^th Army at Gazala (May/June 1942).

Related to 'Fabric', the plan was based on the dissemination of false rumours and the despatch to the UK of letters marked 'To Await Arrival' suggesting that General Sir Claude Auchinleck, the commander-in-chief, Middle East, was to travel to London and that a major offensive was therefore highly unlikely.