Complex sentence: Eight Stuart tanks of the 2/6th Armoured Regiment were transported in two lifts by the "Karsik", from Milne Bay immediately preceding commencement of Operation "Lilliput".
Split into simpler sentences: Eight Stuart tanks of the 2/6th Armoured Regiment were transported in two lifts by the "Karsik", from Milne Bay. This was immediately preceding commencement of Operation "Lilliput".