By October the "Luftwaffe" had reinforced "Fliegerkorps II", and a new round of heavy raids began, using new low-level or shallow dive-bombing tactics, mainly against the airfields and the RN submarine base. These used Ju88s escorted by a variety of German and Italian fighters, with Bf 109s, Macchi C.202 "Folgores" and Fiat CR.42 "Falco" biplanes operating as Fighter-bombers. However, these attacks also lost heavily to the AA guns and RAF fighters, despite the increasing shortages of food and supplies on the island. At last, in November "Welshman" and her sister ship HMS "Manxman" appeared, followed by a supply convoy. With the Axis defeat at Alamein and the Allied North Africa landings the same month, the siege of Malta was ended. The only enemy air activity for the rest of the year was occasional high-flying reconnaissances and one raid on Luqa in December. On 18 November the commanding officer, Lt-Col J.E.C. Blunt, moved to 4th HAA Rgt and Maj G.J. Bell was promoted from commanding 12 AA Gun Operation Room to replace him.