Malta’s Savior

Holding the small island of Malta, the British Empire’s strategic centerpiece in the Mediterranean Sea, was critical to the Allied cause in World War II—and taking it was essential for Axis victory. German forces laid siege to the island beginning in June 1940, and it soon became the most bombed place on Earth. By August 1942, with supplies running out, Malta was in dire need of relief. In what was then the largest Royal Navy force yet assembled in the war, two battleships, three aircraft carriers, seven light cruisers, 32 destroyers and a fleet of transports were mustered from far-flung theaters. This day-by-day account of Operation Pedestal chronicles the planning, execution and climactic battle that saw only five of 14 merchant ships make it to Valletta, all but one heavily damaged.

John Henshaw was educated at Wesley College and Melbourne University. In retirement he has pursued his interest in naval history and is the author of seven books. He lives in Australia.

John Henshaw
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 331
Bibliographic Info: 147 photos, appendices, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9009-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4853-8
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
Part I: 11 June 1940–12 July 1942 7
1. Background 8
2. Operation Hercules (Unternehmen Herkules; Operazione C3) 11
3. 1940: Malta Besieged 17
4. 1941: Struggling On: Operations Excess, Substance and Halberd 25
5. 1942: Abject Failures and Limited Successes: Operations Harpoon and Vigorous 34
Part II: Operation Pedestal—Day by Day 47
6. 13–28 July 1942: Preparations 48
7. 29 July–9 August 1942: Briefings, Departures, the Task Force Assembles, Operation Berserk 80
8. Day 1: Sunday, 9 August 1942: The Great Refueling Shuffle 94
9. Day +1: Monday, 10 August 1942: Into the Lion’s Den 100
10. Axis Responses 106
11. Day +2: Tuesday, 11 August 1942: First Actions 112
12. Day +3: Wednesday, 12 August 1942: Onslaught 127
13. Day +4: Thursday, 13 August 1942: The Battle of the Narrows 178
14. Day +5: Friday, 14 August 1942: Out of This Nettle, Danger, We Pluck This Flower, Safety 218
15. Day +6: Saturday, 15 August 1942: The Feast of Santa Marija 226
16. Aftermath 231
17. Conclusions 243
Appendix A. Supplying Malta, 1940 249
Appendix B. Supplying Malta, 1941 251
Appendix C. Supplying Malta, 1942 254
Appendix D. Pedestal Force Codenames and Complements 257
Appendix E. Pedestal Order of Battle and Personnel 259
Appendix F. Royal Navy Warship Data 263
Appendix G. Merchant Ship Data (Alphabetical Order) 277
Appendix H. Allied Aircraft Data 281
Appendix I. Axis Warship Data 285
Appendix J. Axis Aircraft Data 291
Appendix K. Vichy France 294
Glossary 297
Chapter Notes 305
Bibliography 311
Index 313