@Caesar:
So I can’t find an answer on this. Does anyone know how Germany managed to send units into northern Africa? I am pretty sure the only Kreigsmarine units ever sent into the med was U-boats so did they rely on a merchant fleet, Vichy France, or the Royal Marina?
I have found an answer you are looking for!!! Check this out
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Tarigo_Convoy
In mid-April, 1941, a five ship Axis convoy sailed from Naples, en route to Tripoli. It consisted of four German troopships (Adana, Arta, Aegina and Iserlohn) and an Italian ammunition ship (Sabaudia). The convoy was escorted by a “Navigatori” class destroyer Luca Tarigo (flagship) and two Folgore class destroyers, Baleno and Lampo, all commanded by Commander Pietro de Cristofaro. The convoy was delayed by bad weather, sailing in the evening of 13 April.
So in at least this instance there were German Troop Ships, with Italian surface ship support, and I’ve also read about German air support at a glance. I would argue that Axis Convoys were a bit of a mixed bag.
Probably alot of civilian vessels “confiscated” and re purposed.