- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Crecy Publishing; New ed of 2 Revised ed edition (Mar 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0947554777
- ISBN-13: 978-0947554774
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,306,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Book Description
In the summer of 1942 one of the main issues in the balance was the fate of Malta. The island was still a bastion of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean and a constant threat to the supply route for the enemy land forces in North Africa.
It bravely resisted every onslaught of the Axis powers, but food supplies were desperately short and fuel oil running low. In August of that year Operation Pedestal was launched - a last attempt to relieve Malta. Fourteen merchant ships were allocated to it and the Royal Navy provided the most powerful force ever to escort a convoy including four aircraft carriers. Operating from Sardinia and Sicily, the Germans and Italians let fly with their shore-based aircraft on an unprecedented scale. The losses on the British side were appalling, but the objective was achieved and the blockade of Malta was finally lifted.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
It bravely resisted every onslaught of the Axis powers, but food supplies were desperately short and fuel oil running low. In August of that year Operation Pedestal was launched - a last attempt to relieve Malta. Fourteen merchant ships were allocated to it and the Royal Navy provided the most powerful force ever to escort a convoy including four aircraft carriers. Operating from Sardinia and Sicily, the Germans and Italians let fly with their shore-based aircraft on an unprecedented scale. The losses on the British side were appalling, but the objective was achieved and the blockade of Malta was finally lifted.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thorough job of research.,
By Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)
This review is from: Pedestal: Malta Convoy of August 1942 (Hardcover)
There is something about Operation Pedestal which will continue to occupy the minds of those with an interest in the subject for many more years to come. Had the tanker "Ohio" not arrived in Malta with her cargo intact in August 1942 - and she barely did!, Malta would have capitulated within a few days. Viewed in a modern context, the fall of such a small country might appear insignificant. In the pre-jet aircraft and pre-missile days of WW2, however, Malta was the key to success in North Africa by either side.
This was a time when Axis aircraft controlled the entire northern shores of the Mediterranean. Unlike Gibraltar and Alexandria, Malta - with her central position in the Mediterranean, was completely dependent on re-supply by sea. In addition, whilst much has been written about the London Blitz where, for a period of 51 days, German aircraft bombed the British capital city, much less has been written about the Malta Blitz where Valetta suffered the same treatment for 150 days. By August 1942, the plans for the surrender of Malta had been drawn up. The tiny island state would now survive for less than 30 days unless this convoy - codenamed Operation Pedestal, got through. Fourteen merchant ships were to be protected by the most powerful naval force (which included 4 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships and 3 cruisers) ever assigned to guard a fleet of ships. Against them was mounted a land-based air assault by combined German and Italian forces on an unprecedented scale, units of the Italian Navy and a series of coordinated submarine attacks. British naval losses (which included one of those carriers) and damage were alarming, but 4 of those merchant ships eventually arrived in Malta. This included the all-important Ohio which was only kept afloat by having destroyers tied to her sides as she entered one of the most famous harbours in the world. Operation Pedestal had been a success and the Battle for Malta had been won. In this book, first published in 1970, Peter Smith provides the reader with a first rate work. On the one hand, his research is impeccable and, of course, complete. On the other, he also produces an excellent read. With a fascinating selection of historic photographs - mostly taken during the various naval actions, some maps and a vital selection of Appendices containing relevant data, this is, as I say, a complete work. NM
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
very detailed account of a key moment in WWII,
By H. Beentje "Henk Beentje" (Kew, England) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta (Paperback)
In August 1942, Malta was on the brink of starvation, and on the brink of being lost to the Axis powers. Malta was a lynchpin, with submarines and strike aircraft taking a hefty toll of supplies flowing to Rommel in North Africa - naval surface forces had been withdrawn, due to the exceptionally heavy bombing from the air. Without Malta, Rommel would probably have reached Cairo; because of the forces stationed at Malta, Rommel did not have enough supplies, and this was a big contribution to his defeat at Alamein. From that moment, the tide turned for the British forces.
This book tells how a convoy of 14 merchant ships, with a very strong Royal Navy escort, sailed from Gibraltar to Malta; how they suffered heavy Axis attacks, both from submarines, small surface craft, and air forces, for much of the way; and how few of them arrived, and of the vital difference this made to the Allied effort. The text shows that an enormous amount of research has gone into a very detailed account. A bit too detailed, at times, in that the main story seems to get lost, at times, in the various separate strands - for me, they did not really come together in a single story. I could not see much of the wood, for too many trees (a poor metaphor!). Overall, very good on detail, a rather dry style, but a worthy telling of a very important story.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riviting book on one of the wars biggest gamble !!,
By
This review is from: Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta (Paperback)
This books tell the story of the last gasp desperate gamble to get a supply convoy through to Malta in 1942. With the islands supplies down to a matter of weeks there was a real chance of Malta capitulating to the Axis powers. With the only aircraft carriers available and those carrying obsolete aircraft, the convoy sets sail only to run into a hail of aircraft attacks. A very well researched and written book guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plenty of facts and figues, photos, names and dates, this book will tell you all you need to know on what was at up until that time the biggest military gamble undertaken by the British and Commonwealth forces. In 1942 the war was far, far from being won, the US having thus far not fired a shot in anger in Europe. Highly recommended.
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