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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.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Part I: 11 June 1940-12 July 1942
1.ç·½ackground
2.ç¸peration Hercules (Unternehmen Herkules; Operazione C3)
3.�40: Malta Besieged
4.�41: Struggling On: Operations Excess, Substance and Halberd
5.�42: Abject Failures and Limited Successes: Operations Harpoon and Vigorous
Part II: Operation Pedestal-Day by Day
6.�-28 July 1942: Preparations
7.� July-9 August 1942: Briefings, Departures, the Task Force Assembles, Operation Berserk
8.ç·¿ay 1: Sunday, 9 August 1942: The Great Refueling Shuffle
9.ç·¿ay : Monday, 10 August 1942: Into the Lion's Den
10.ç·¼xis Responses
11.ç·¿ay : Tuesday, 11 August 1942: First Actions
12.ç·¿ay : Wednesday, 12 August 1942: Onslaught
13.ç·¿ay : Thursday, 13 August 1942: The Battle of the Narrows
14.ç·¿ay : Friday, 14 August 1942: Out of This Nettle, Danger, We Pluck This Flower, Safety
15.ç·¿ay : Saturday, 15 August 1942: The Feast of Santa Marija
16.ç·¼ftermath
17.ç·¾onclusions
Appendix A. Supplying Malta, 1940
Appendix B. Supplying Malta, 1941
Appendix C. Supplying Malta, 1942
Appendix D. Pedestal Force Codenames and Complements
Appendix E. Pedestal Order of Battle and Personnel
Appendix F. Royal Navy Warship Data
Appendix G. Merchant Ship Data (Alphabetical Order)
Appendix H. Allied Aircraft Data
Appendix I. Axis Warship Data
Appendix J. Axis Aircraft Data
Appendix K. Vichy France
Glossary
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
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.
