As we have mentioned, the Axis was having great difficulty keeping Rommel's army supplied in late 1941

The RAF and British submarines were making life very difficult for Rommel's army. In the beginning of December, small freighters were still able to bring some fuel and ammunition into Benghazi. The army was just a short distance to the east, so transport forward to the troops was less of an issue. The RAF was based far enough forward that they were able to make movements into Benghazi increasingly difficult. For November, only one third of the needed 120,000 tons of supplies had reached North Africa. Malta was also a big factor in the success against the Axis supply lines. Wellingtons from Malta and Egypt made a major effort on the nights from 28 November to 1 December to hit the port at Benghazi with their 4,000 pound bomb loads. The situation had progressed to the point where the British were able to resupply and re-equip, while the Axis were not even able to supply their needs, much less rebuild their units. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.