RAF Luqa was attacked on 18 January and one Ju 87 was shot down by fighters. On 19 January another two were lost over Malta bombing the aircraft carrier, with another damaged. On 5/6 February the HM Trawler "Tourmaline" was attacked. Force H shelled Genoa (Operation Grog), and so the group transferred to Sardinia on 9 February but did not succeed in finding the British ships. From there it was sent to Africa II./StG 1 claimed the last major success over Malta; the 26 February attack on Luqa destroyed most hangars, workshops and destroyed or damaged 17 to 19 aircraft. It cost the group three Ju 87s. III./StG 1 also took part in the attack. It lost two Ju 87s over Malta on 5 March 1941. Third group also attacked Malta convoys MW 6. They claimed two ships sunk, but British records show none were lost, but two were bombed at their births. The group's commanding officer Helmut Mahlke returned with his Ju 87 heavily damaged by ground-fire.