Operation Pedestal
Part of World War II, Mediterranean Campaign
The merchantship SS Waimarama explodes after being bombed.
Date 9 August 1942 Location Mediterranean Result Indecisive. Severely needed supplies reached their destination, but many of the original force was sunk.
Combatants
United Kingdom  United States	Nazi Germany Fascist Italy
Commanders
Vice Admiral Sir Neville Syfret, Rear-Admiral H M Burrough, CB	Alberto Da Zara
Strength
2 Battleships, 4 Aircraft Carriers, 7 Cruisers, 16 Destroyers, 14 Merchantmen.	6 Cruisers, 1 Italian E-boat flotilla 1 Italian MAS flotilla 1 German E-boat flotilla 11 Submarines, of which one German. 784 airplanes, bombers, torpedo-bombers and fighters, of which 456 german and 328 italian.
Casualties
1 Aircraft Carrier sunk, 1 damaged, 1 Cruiser sunk, 1 scuttled, 2 damaged, 1 destroyer damaged and scuttled, 9 merchantmen sunk, others damaged but reached destination.	2 cruisers severely damaged, 2 submarines sunk, 1 damaged.

Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. For the British, the Mediterranean naval campaign revolved around the island of Malta. It was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked the supply convoys for the Italian and German armies in North Africa, without which they could not operate. To sustain the island, major convoy operations had to be mounted at all costs; the island narrowly survived^[1] at the height of the Axis siege of Malta. Despite serious losses, just enough supplies were delivered to enable Malta to survive^[2], although it ceased to be an effective offensive base for much of 1942. The most crucial supplies were fuel supplies delivered by the tanker SS Ohio^[3]. The operation started on 9 August 1942, when the convoy sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar^[4]. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Mediterranean region. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Anthem Marcia Reale dOrdinanza (Royal March of Ordinance)¹ The Kingdom of Italy at the height of its power in 1940. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret was a British naval officer who served with the Royal Navy in World War I and World War II. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ... A MAS-15 of World War I. Motoscafo Armato Silurante (Italian: Torpedo Armed Motorboat, commonly abbreviated as MAS) was a class of fast armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II. Originally, the acronym MAS referred to Motorbarca Armata SVAN (Armed Motorboat SVAN... Combatants Allied Nations Axis Powers The Naval Battle of the Mediterranean was waged during World War II, to attack and keep open the respective supply lines of Allied and Axis armies, and to destroy the opposing sides ability to wage war at sea. ... Combatants United Kingdom France Commanders James Somerville Marcel-Bruno Gensoul Strength 1 aircraft carrier 3 battleships 2 light cruisers 11 destroyers 4 battleships 6 destroyers 1 seaplane tender Casualties 3 Blackburn Skua 3 Fairey Swordfish 2 dead 1 battleship sunk 2 battleships heavily damaged 1 destroyer damaged 1,297 dead... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Italy Commanders Vice-Admiral John Tovey Captain Enrico Baroni† Strength 5 cruisers 3 destroyers Casualties 1 cruiser lightly damaged 1 destroyer sunk 150-180 dead The Battle of the Espero Convoy was one of the very first naval battles between the Royal Navy and the Regia... The Battle of Calabria, also known as the Battle of Punta Stilo, was a naval battle between ships of Italian Regia Marina on one side and the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy on the other. ... The battle of Cape Spada was a naval battle of World War II fought in the Mediterranean off Cape Spada, the north-western extremity of Crete on 19 July 1940. ... This article is about the 1940 battle. ... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders James Somerville Inigo Campioni Strength 1 carrier 1 battleship 1 battlecruiser 1 heavy cruiser 5 light cruisers 1 anti aircraft cruiser 4 destroyers 4 corvettes 4 freighters 2 battleships 6 heavy cruisers 14 destroyers Casualties 1 heavy cruiser damaged 1 destroyer damaged The Battle of... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Italy Commanders Andrew Cunningham Angelo Iachino Strength 1 aircraft carrier 3 battleships 7 light cruisers 17 destroyers 1 battleship 6 heavy cruisers 2 light cruisers 17 destroyers Casualties 4 light cruiser lightly damaged 1 torpedo bomber destroyed 3 dead 1 battleship heavily damaged 3 heavy cruisers... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders Captain P J Mack Captain Pietro de Cristofaro Strength 4 destroyers 3 destroyers Casualties 1 destroyer sunk 41 killed 3 destroyers sunk 5 merchant ships sunk 1800+ men lost The Battle of the Tarigo Convoy (sometimes referred to as the Action off Sfax) was fought... Combatants Greece United Kingdom New Zealand Australia Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy Commanders Bernard Freyberg Kurt Student Strength United Kingdom: 15,000 Greece: 11,000 Australia: 7,100 New Zealand: 6,700 Total: 40,000 (10,000 without fighting capacity[2]) Germany: 14,000 paratroopers 15,000 mountain troopers 280... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders Captain W.G Agnew Captain Ugo Bisciani Strength 2 light cruisers 2 destroyers 2 heavy cruisers 10 destroyers Casualties none? 2 destroyers sunk, 5 merchant ships sunk, ?? lost The Battle of the Duisburg Convoy was fought on the night of 8-9 November 1941 between... The Battle of Cape Bon was a Second World War naval action off Cape Bon, Tunisia. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Netherlands Italy Commanders Andrew Cunningham Angelo Iachino Strength 6 light cruisers 10 destroyers 4 battleships 2 heavy cruisers 3 light cruisers 19 destroyers 1 torpedo boat Casualties 1 light cruiser sunk 1 destroyer sunk 2 destroyers damaged 767 killed None ? The First Battle of Sirte was... The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the World War II. It took place on 22 March 1942, in the Mediterranean, north to the Gulf of Sirte, west of Malta. ... In World War II, Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942. ... Operation Vigorous was a World War II operation to deliver a supply convoy (MW-11) that sailed from Haifa and Port Said on the 12th June 1942 to Malta. ... During World War II, Operation Agreement consisted of ground and amphibious attacks by British, Rhodesian and New Zealand forces on German- and Italian-held Tobruk (Operation Daffodil), Benghazi (Operation Snowdrop), Jalo oasis (Operation Tulip) and Barce (Operation Hyacinth) launched on 13 September 1942. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Free French Forces Vichy France Commanders Dwight Eisenhower Andrew Cunningham François Darlan Strength 73,500 60,000 Casualties 479+ dead 720 wounded 1,346+ dead 1,997 wounded Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in... Combatants Vichy France Germany Commanders Jean de Laborde André Marquis Johannes Blaskowitz Casualties whole fleet scuttled ; 12 killed ; 26 wounded. ... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Germany¹ Commanders C. H. J. Harcount Aldo Cocchia Strength 3 light cruisers 2 destroyers 3 destroyers 2 torpedo boats convoy of 4 ships Casualties no ships lost 1 destroyer entire convoy ¹one ship in the convoy was German The Battle of Skerki Bank was a World... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders unknown unknown Strength 2 destroyers 2 torpedo boats 1 transport ship Casualties 1 destroyer sunk 10 dead 1 torpedo boat sunk 1 torpedo boat damaged 100-120 dead The Battle of the Cigno Convoy was a naval engagement between two Royal Navy destroyers and two... Combatants  United States  United Kingdom  Canada  Free French  Nazi Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery George S. Patton Albert Kesselring Alfredo Guzzoni Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin Strength 160,000 men 14,000 vehicles 600 tanks 1,800 guns 365,000 Italians 40,000 Germans Casualties... Roma was an Italian Vittorio Veneto class battleship that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was built in 1940. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Axis powers. ... The Island of Malta The Siege of Malta was a significant military event in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II that occurred between 1940 and 1943 on the island of Malta. ... The SS Ohio was an oil tanker. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space (on the left: Spain) A view across the Strait of Gibraltar taken from the hills over Tarifa, Spain The Strait of Gibraltar (Arabic: مضيق جبل طارق, Spanish: Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain...

The convoy is also known as the "Battle of Mid-August" in Italy and as the "Santa Marija Convoy" in Malta. The arrival of the last ships of the convoy on August 15, 1942 coincided with the Feast of the Assumption (Santa Marija) and the name "Santa Marija Convoy" or "Sta Marija Convoy" is still used. That day's public holiday and celebrations, in part, celebrate the arrival of the convoy. The attempt to run some fifty ships past bombers, E-boats, minefields and U-boats has gone down in military history as one of the most important^[2] British strategic victories of the World War II - though at a cost of more than four hundred lives, with only five of the original fourteen ships reaching the Grand Harbour. is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... According to Catholic theology and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, the body of Mary, the mother of Jesus, venerated by these denominations as the Blessed Virgin Mary or Theotokos, respectively, was taken into Heaven along with her soul after her death. ... A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ... A landmine is a type of mine which is placed onto or into the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person. ... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... Grand Harbour (in Maltese: Il-Port il-Kbir) is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. ...

Background

In 1942, Great Britain was waging a land war against Italian forces in North Africa and their allies, Rommel's Afrika Korps. Malta was critical^[5] to this campaign^[6]. During this stage of the war, Malta was critically short on munitions, food and aviation fuel. Attempts to run the blockade and resupply Malta proved to be a failure; previous convoys such as Harpoon (from Gibraltar) and Vigorous (from Alexandria, Egypt) had had most of their merchantmen sunk^[7] and their escorts damaged.^[8] Military planners knew Malta would be forced to surrender if fuel, grain and ammunition did not get through before the end of August - the local air commander (Keith Park) had warned that there remained only a few weeks' supply of aviation fuel. Another convoy was planned, therefore, for mid-August.^[4]  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... The seal of the Deutsches Afrikakorps. ... In World War II, Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942. ... Operation Vigorous was a World War II operation to deliver a supply convoy (MW-11) that sailed from Haifa and Port Said on the 12th June 1942 to Malta. ... This article is about the city in Egypt. ... Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, DCL (June 15, 1892 - February 6, 1975) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in World War II. // Early Life and Army Career Park was born near Auckland, New Zealand. ...

Planning

The Admiralty started to plan Operation Pedestal in the early weeks of July 1942: this was to be the main effort to relieve Malta. At the same time, there would be minor operations under the cover of Pedestal. Operation Berserk would be an aircraft carrier exercise to improve coordination between the various carriers in the convoy. Operation Bellows would be a reinforcement of Malta's air defences by Spitfires flown off a carrier. Operation Ascendant would be the sailing of a small return convoy from Malta to Gibraltar. Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ...

The main participants during these discussions were Rear Admiral A. L. St. G. Lyster, CB, CVO, DSO, Rear-Admiral H. M. Burrough, CB, DSO, Vice-Admiral E. N. Syfret, CB and the Naval Staff. The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Vice-Admiral Sir (Arthur) Lumley Lyster, KCB, CVO, CBE, DSO was a Royal Navy officer during the Second World War. ... CB (or derivative) may be: Cowboy Bebop, an anime and manga popular in Japan and also widely popular in the United States, often credited with significantly broadening the popularity of anime in the United States. ... Victoria founded the Royal Victorian Order. ... DSO may stand for: Distinguished Service Order Dallas Symphony Orchestra Darkstar Orchestra Dartford Symphony Orchestra Deep sky object Defense Science Organization Defense Spectrum Office (U.S. DoD) Designated School Official Detroit Symphony Orchestra Device Software Optimization (www. ... Sir Harold Martin Burrough KCB, KBE, DSO, (4 July 1889 - 22 October 1977) was a British Admiral and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff to the Royal Navy during World War II. Born in Herefordshire, he was the tenth son of Rev. ... CB (or derivative) may be: Cowboy Bebop, an anime and manga popular in Japan and also widely popular in the United States, often credited with significantly broadening the popularity of anime in the United States. ... DSO may stand for: Distinguished Service Order Dallas Symphony Orchestra Darkstar Orchestra Dartford Symphony Orchestra Deep sky object Defense Science Organization Defense Spectrum Office (U.S. DoD) Designated School Official Detroit Symphony Orchestra Device Software Optimization (www. ... Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret was a British naval officer who served with the Royal Navy in World War I and World War II. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy. ... CB (or derivative) may be: Cowboy Bebop, an anime and manga popular in Japan and also widely popular in the United States, often credited with significantly broadening the popularity of anime in the United States. ...

Rear-Admiral H M Burrough, CB, who commanded the close escort, shaking hands with Captain Dudley Mason of SS Ohio

The supplies were to be carried by fourteen merchant ships, the most important being the SS Ohio, the only large tanker available^[9] (and the largest tanker in the world at the time). As insurance against its loss, the others would carry some fuel supplies in drums. The convoy was to be protected by two large forces of warships, one as close support to Malta and the other as a more distant cover (Force Z). There were two battleships, three aircraft carriers, seven cruisers and thirty-two destroyers. Once they reached the Sicilian channel, Force Z (the battleships, the aircraft carriers, and three cruisers) were to return to Gibraltar, leaving the convoy to continue to Malta escorted by the remaining four cruisers and the destroyers. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship that carries goods and materials from one port to another. ... The SS Ohio was an oil tanker. ... For other uses, see Battleship (disambiguation). ... Four aircraft carriers, (bottom-to-top) Principe de Asturias, amphibious assault carrier USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and light V/STOL carrier HMS Invincible, showing size differences of late 20th century carriers An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and in most cases recover aircraft, acting as a sea... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser (really an uprated guided missile destroyer), launched in 1992. ... USS McFaul underway in the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Strait of Sicily is the strait between Sicily and Tunisia. ...

The Regia Marina was hampered^[10] by a lack of fuel oil, which kept its largest vessels in port. When the British convoy was detected, it was decided to attack it with German and Italian aircraft based in Sardinia and send ten submarines into the Sicilian Channel. An Italian cruiser division was to deliver the final attack, which required oil to be transferred from inactive battleships to the cruisers^[10] The Italian Regia Marina (literally: Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. ... For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... For other uses, see Submarine (disambiguation). ...

Preliminary Movements

The Convoy Commander, Vice-Admiral E. N. Syfret, transferred to HMS Nelson on 27 July when the Nelson and Rodney returned to Scapa Flow from Freetown, west Africa. Syfret convened a conference on 29 July, for Flag and Commanding Officers of the naval forces for Pedestal currently assembled at Scapa, to consider the orders for the operation. On July 31 the Nelson, Rodney, Victorious, Argus, Sirius and destroyers sailed from Scapa to rendezvous with Eagle and Charybdis from Gibraltar and HMS Indomitable and Phoebe, from Freetown, for Operation Berserk. Berserk successfully exercised fighter direction and co-operation between the three carriers, in preparation for the impending convoy^[4]. HMS Nelson was a Nelson-class battleship of the Royal Navy active in World War II. She was named in honour of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... HMS Rodney was a Nelson-class battleship of the Royal Navy. ... It has been suggested that Gutter Sound be merged into this article or section. ... For other places with the same name, see Freetown (disambiguation). ... is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... HMS Victorious (R38) was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. ... Argus in harbour in 1918, painted in dazzle camouflage, with a Renown class battlecruiser. ... HMS Sirius was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Eagle was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy sunk during World War II. The Eagle was laid down at the Armstrong yards at Newcastle-on-Tyne on February 20, 1913. ... HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Indomitable (pennant number 92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ... HMS Phoebe was a Dido class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ...

The convoy, named with a bogus "WS"^[11] prefix, escorted by HMS Nigeria, Kenya and destroyers sailed from the Clyde overnight on August 2 and joined the other escorts during the following morning. Just prior to sailing, but after the "normal"^[4] convoy conference, Rear-Admiral Burrough met with the Masters of the merchant ships on board his flagship and the whole plan was explained in detail^[12]. A similar meeting was held with radio operators of the merchantmen to explain fleet communications and procedures. Personal messages signed by the First Lord of the Admiralty wishing the Masters "God Speed" and contained in envelopes marked "Not to be opened until 0800 hours August 10" were handed to the Masters. WS, Ws or ws may refer to: Five Ws, a concept in journalism Ware Shoals Railroad (AAR reporting mark WS) Wavetable synthesis; the method to generate sound by a digital music synthesizer Web services a collection of protocols and standards used for exchanging data between applications Samoa (ISO 3166-1... HMS Nigeria (pennant number 60) was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy completed early in World War II and which served throughout that conflict. ... HMS Kenya (C14) was a Crown Colony-class cruiser of the British Royal Navy named after Kenya (at the time a British possession). ... Clyde may refer to: The River Clyde and Firth of Clyde in Scotland. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The First Lord of the Admiralty was a British government position in charge of the Admiralty. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Shortly before the departure from Scapa, the Admiralty decided that HMS Furious should carry out Operation Bellows to reinforce Malta with Spitfires, at the same time as Pedestal and necessary alterations to the Operation Orders ^[4] were distributed to all concerned. Technical difficulties (connected with the aircraft's propellers, and Furious humped flying deck) delayed the carrier's departure but, with HMS Manchester, she joined the Nelson and the convoy three days before the start of the operation. The passage of the convoy from the United Kingdom to the rendezvous with the aircraft carriers west of the Straits was successful, though there were many alarms over U-Boat contacts en route. The convoy was exercised in anti-aircraft gunnery, in emergency turns and in changing from one cruising disposition to another, using both flags and short range W/T. The risk to security in breaking W/T silence was accepted and as a result of these exercises the convoy attained an efficiency in manoeuvring "comparable to that of a fleet unit"^[4]. Five vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Furious: Furious, launched 1797, was a 12-gun gunvessel. ... The second HMS Manchester (15) was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space (on the left: Spain) A view across the Strait of Gibraltar taken from the hills over Tarifa, Spain The Strait of Gibraltar (Arabic: مضيق جبل طارق, Spanish: Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain...

Into the Mediterranean

Past the Straits

The force's aircraft performed dummy air attacks during the afternoon of August 8, followed by a fly past. These were done to exercise the radar reporting and fighter direction organisation and to give ships' guncrews an opportunity to recognise the markings of friendly aircraft. The resulting volume of radio traffic must have been very apparent to hostile listening stations^[13], but this risk to security was worth the benefit gained from the rehearsals (At 13:00, when HMS Indomitable joined the force, it was believed to have been the first time that five British aircraft carriers had operated together at sea). is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... HMS Indomitable (pennant number 92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ...

The passage of the Straits and August 10 were uneventful. Fishing boats and one merchant vessel were passed at close quarters, but due to a moonless night and indifferent visibility, it was thought improbable that the force had been sighted from the shore. Reports received later^[4], however, showed that the enemy was fully aware of the convoy's passage of the Straits. is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

August 11

Seen from the flight deck of HMS Victorious, a Fairey Albacore takes off from HMS Indomitable, while HMS Eagle brings up the rear. The Eagle was lost during this operation.

The convoy completed refuelling by dawn on August 11, from the tankers Dingledale and Brown Ranger. Previous Malta convoys had refuelled at Malta^[14] but now Malta had no oil to spare. The refuelling of three cruisers and twenty-six destroyers at sea, under enemy observation and in U-Boat infested waters, was an anxious one; failure could have seriously upset the whole operation^[15]. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The Fairey Albacore is a single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Fleet Air Arm. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The main coup for the Axis during the day happened early in the morning. The aircraft carrier HMS Eagle was hit by four torpedoes from U-73 (Helmut Rosenbaum) and sank seventy nautical miles south of Cape Salinas. Most of the crew survived (927, 160 lost), rescued by her escorts. The sinking of the Eagle deprived the force of a quarter of its fighter strength^[4]. HMS Eagle was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy sunk during World War II. The Eagle was laid down at the Armstrong yards at Newcastle-on-Tyne on February 20, 1913. ... Unterseeboot 73 or U-73 has been the name of several German submarines or U-boats during the First World War and the Second World War. ...

While the Eagle was being torpedoed, the Furious successfully finished Operation Bellows, flying off thirty-seven much needed Spitfires to Malta. The flying distance between Furious and Malta was 555 nautical miles (1,028 km) to 584 nautical miles (1,082 km). Her part of the mission complete, Furious returned to Gibraltar with her escorts. A destroyer escorting the Furious, HMS Wolverine, rammed and sank the Italian submarine Dagabur. Wolverine 's bow was seriously damaged, but she reached Gibraltar for repairs.^[4] HMS Wolverine (D78) was a Royal Navy destroyer built by J.S. White & Co. ...

A large number of sightings of torpedoes, air and U-Boat attacks were reported throughout the whole convoy^[4]. The Axis made every form of air attack, including minelaying ahead of the fleet^[4]. Up to 19:00 on August 11, there were four heavy air attacks on the fleet, which used many aircraft. Despite the weight of these attacks, the only casualties were one merchant ship with her speed reduced by a near miss, a destroyer torpedoed but afloat (though later scuttled) and the HMS Indomitable put out of flying action but capable of steaming at 28 knots (52 km/h). At 20:00, an Italian air attack (using S.84, CR.42, C.202, and Re.2001 fighters and bombers) against the aircraft carriers damaged the flight deck of HMS Victorious. is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... HMS Indomitable (pennant number 92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ... The Savoia-Marchetti S.83 was the civil version of Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. ... Fiat CR.42 Falco The Fiat CR.42 Falco (Falcon) was a biplane which served as the primary fighter aircraft of Italys Regia Aeronautica at the outbreak of World War II. // Development The epitome of a biplane fighter, CR.42 represented evolution of the Italian designs starting with Fiat... The Macchi C.202 Folgore was a World War II fighter aircraft built by the Macchi company, a development of their earlier C.200 Saetta mounting a more powerful German designed Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine. ... Reggiane Re. ... HMS Victorious (R38) was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. ...

August 12

The score-board for the successes of HMS Indomitable's air group painted on the island. Indomitable's fighters claimed to have shot down thirty-eight Axis aircraft

As the convoy moved eastwards towards the enemy's bases in Sardinia and Sicily, it was expected that the U-Boat and air threat would increase and a U-Boat concentration was expected near Galita. Anti-submarine measures were stepped up to meet this threat. The convoy's anti-submarine screen, later in the day, destroyed an Italian submarine^[16]. The submarine had been rammed by HMS Ithuriel. This tactic was discouraged by the Admiralty, due to the damage that often resulted. In Ithuriel's case, she had badly damaged herself, put her Asdic gear out of action and the resulting absence of Ithuriel from the escort screen occurred under an air attack. The carriers launched Fairey Fulmars and Hawker Sea Hurricanes as air cover. The first air attack by nineteen Ju88s was met by both anti-aircraft fire and the fighters. Four bombers were claimed for the loss of a fighter and two more were shot down by the escorting ships^[4]. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... HMS Ithuriel (H05) was an I-class destroyer laid down as Gayret for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, launched on 15 December 1940 and commissioned on 3 March 1942. ... The F70 type frigates (here, Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C tugged sonars Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft. ... The Fulmar was a carrier-borne fighter aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm built by Fairey Aviation during 1940. ... The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ...

The Italian cruiser division, consisting of three heavy cruisers (Gorizia, Bolzano, and Trieste), three light cruisers (Eugenio di Savoia, Raimondo Montecuccoli, and Muzio Attendolo) and 17 destroyers sailed^[17] to meet the British convoy. A heavy cruiser is a type of large warship which originated with the British Hawkins class during World War I. They entered service after the war. ... The Zara class was an Italian heavy cruiser design of the Regia Marina from the early 1930s, considered by many to be one of the best cruiser designs of World War II. Four ships of the class were completed, Zara, Fiume, Pola and Gorizia, all of which saw extensive service... The Trento class was an Italian heavy cruiser design of the Regia Marina from the late 1920s. ... The Trento class was an Italian heavy cruiser design of the Regia Marina from the late 1920s. ... A light cruiser is a warship that is not so large and powerful as a regular (or heavy) cruiser, but still larger than ships like destroyers. ... Eugenio di Savoia was a Condottieri class light cruiser, which served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She survived the war but was given as a war reparation to the Hellenic Navy in 1947. ... Raimondo Montecuccoli was a Condottieri class light cruiser of the Regia Marina, which fought in World War II. She survived the war and served in the post-war Marina Militare until 1964. ... Muzio Attendolo was a Condottieri class light cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina, which fought in World War II. She was sunk in Naples by bombers of the USAAF on 4 December 1942. ...

Throughout the day, the force was under continual observation by aircraft, with fighter protection. During the day, there were three very heavy air attacks; whilst Force X, after parting company, was attacked at dusk by bombers and torpedo-bombers. During daylight, British fighters were active, they provided early warning of raids and destroyed enemy aircraft, although frequently outnumbered. The convoy's A.A. guns also proved successful as deterrents.

Submarines, however, remained a potent threat. The Italian submarine Brin was driven off by destroyers. A Sunderland flying boat attacked Giada, which was waiting for the convoy off Algiers, damaging it and a subsequent air attack by another flying boat caused more damage. Brin brought down the flying boat with its own guns. To prevent any further submarine attack the destroyers dropped depth charges every ten minutes, between 14:00 and 19:00. The S.25 Sunderland was a flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers, first flown on 16 October 1937. ... This article is about the capital of Algeria. ...

At noon, another air attack developed, by Italian and German bombers and Italian fighters. The attacks did not occur as planned, and the convoy enjoyed brief respites rather than enduring continuous waves of attacks. Indomitable 's flight deck was put out of action, leaving Victorious as the only remaining flight deck. Indomitable 's aircraft had to be landed on Victorious and aircraft were ditched overboard to make space for further landings.^[18]

It had been intended that Force Z should return to Gibraltar when the Skerki Channel was reached at 19:15. Indomitable was on fire forward and aft, so Syfret brought the manoeuvre forward by twenty minutes^[19], and at 6:55pm, Force Z was ordered to return to Gibraltar, leaving Force X to continue to Malta. This separation went unnoticed by the Axis and was not discovered by them until about 8:30pm. In view of the weight of the Axis air attack between 18:30 and 18:50, it seemed improbable that a further significant air attack on Force X could be possible before dark, and having reached the Skerki Banks, it was hoped that the submarine threat would subside. The Skerki Banks are an area of relatively shallower open sea, situated in the central Mediterranean Sea, north of Tunisia and west of Sicily. ... The Skerki Banks are an area of relatively shallower open sea, situated in the central Mediterranean Sea, north of Tunisia and west of Sicily. ...

The main threat to the convoy appeared to be E Boats attacks during the night and by aircraft the following morning. Thus the Axis' successful submarine attack at 20:00, when HMS Nigeria, HMS Cairo and SS Ohio were torpedoed^[20] was unexpected and its effect far reaching. The timing was a critical one, for the convoy was at that moment changing its setup from four to two columns. For this manoeuvre the cruisers were needed as column leaders. The torpedoing of HMS Nigeria and Cairo, the temporary non-effectiveness of HMS Ashanti and the detachment of four "Hunt" class destroyers to stand by the damaged cruisers, temporarily deprived Force X of its Commander, deprived two columns of their leaders, lost the convoy nearly half its escort, and the entire force of its two Fighter Direction ships. On hearing that Nigeria and Cairo had been torpedoed, Syfret ordered HMS Charybidis, Eskimo and Somali to reinforce Force X. From about 20:35 to 21:00 the convoy was subjected to a very severe dusk air attack by dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers. E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ... HMS Nigeria (pennant number 60) was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy completed early in World War II and which served throughout that conflict. ... HMS Cairo (D87) was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Egyptian city of Cairo, was a light cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... The Hunt class was a class of destroyer escorts of the Royal Navy. ... Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Eskimo: Eskimo was a Tribal-class destroyer that served in World War II. Eskimo was a Tribal-class frigate. ...

The shattered bows of the SS Brisbane Star, possibly torpedoed in this encounter. The ship reached Malta under its own steam

Ashanti and Penn laid a smokescreen to cover the light western horizon, but this did not prevent the attack from being effective. The merchantmen Empire Hope and Glenorchy were both bombed and sunk, the latter blowing up with no survivors. A separate torpedo-bomber attack was thought to have sunk Deucalion at 21:30 near the Cani Rocks when under escort of HMS Bramham. The Commanding Officer, HMS Kenya describes the state of the convoy after these attacks as 'chaotic', and in fact there are different versions of what really happened during these confusing hours. However, though the convoy was in a confused state, all of the ships in the convoy were steaming in their correct direction. Most of the convoy got safely, though some not undamaged, as far as Kelibia^[21], by early morning. The destroyer HMS Foresight was sunk in the same attack^[4]. Roughly around 21:00, the Italian submarine Alagi reported that it had sunk the merchant ship Empire Hope and damaged the cruiser Kenya; in fact two freighters sank at this moment, while Kenya turned to avoid a torpedo. Another submarine, Bronzo, stated that it had sunk the merchant ship Deucalion. It is possible that the unknown second freighter sunk by the Italian submarine Alagi or the damage to Kenya was not directed to either ship but to the freighter MV Brisbane Star, that supposedly^[22] had its bows torn off during this encounter. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... HMS Bramham (L51) coat of arms The HMS Bramham pennant L51 was a Royal Navy ship laid down in Alexander Stephen & Sons Shipyards of Glasgow, Scotland on 7 April 1941. ... HMS Kenya (C14) was a Crown Colony-class cruiser of the British Royal Navy named after Kenya (at the time a British possession). ... HMS Foresight was an F-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... Italian submarine Alagi was an Italian 600-Serie Adua class submarine, serving the Regia Marina during World War II. It was named after Amba Alagi mountain in Ethiopia. ... MV Brisbane Star in peace time colours (from Fraser Darrah Collection) MV Brisbane Star was built by Cammell Laird & Company Ltd. ...

Nigeria and the other damaged ships turned back to Gibraltar with Wilton and Bicester as escorts. Other submarines, the Emo, Avorio and Dandolo among them, were driven off by depth charges^[12].

August 13

Passing through minefields between Africa and Sicily around midnight, the convoy met eight Italian torpedo-boats which made 15 attacks. The long line of merchant ships and the reduced number of escort ships provided easy opportunities for attacks by the torpedo-boats which were lying in wait off Kelibia^[4]. Here three of the merchant ships which failed to reach Malta were torpedoed. Of these, Wairangi was hit in the engine room and was permanently disabled, whilst Almeria Lykes was hit at the joint of No. 1 bulkhead hold and could not have continued steaming to Malta. In the early morning HMS Manchester was torpedoed^[23] by an Italian E-Boat^[24], and after the ships company had abandoned her in the ships boats and Carley rafts she was scuttled by order of her Commanding Officer.^[25] The cruiser was hit at 01:00 by torpedoes from the Italian MTBs Ms-22 and Ms-16, leaving her dead in the water and listing. She restored power^[2] and some of her crew (156 men) were transferred to HMS Pathfinder, but she was later scuttled off Cape Bon. Several hundred of her complement landed in Vichy-controlled Tunisia and were interned. According to most sources, a dozen of her crew died from the torpedo explosions, while at least another one-hundred and fifty were missing at sea during her evacuation. The merchantmen Santa Elisa was hit by torpedo, with the entire ship catching fire and abandoned by the crew^[26] ; The Glenorchy was torpedoed and on fire, the devastation so great that there were no Glenorchy survivors; another merchantman Rochester Castle was also torpedoed but she kept on going. Fighters from Malta were fired upon by the convoy because the communications were still out. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... The second HMS Manchester (15) was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... Motto Travail, famille, patrie French: Unoccupied zone of Vichy France (until November 1942) Capital Vichy Capital-in-exile Sigmaringen (1944-1945) Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Chief of state  - 1940 — 1944 Philippe Pétain President of the Council  - 1940 — 1942 Philippe Pétain  - 1942 — 1944 Pierre Laval...

The aerial torpedo caught in SS Port Chalmers 's paravane

Twelve Junkers 88s attacked, and the Waimarama was hit, the aviation fuel on deck burst into flame and the ship exploded and sunk, with eighty of the one-hundred and seven crew killed. The destroyer HMS Ledbury passed through the flames to save the survivors^[27]. The wreckage of the Waimarama started fires on the merchantman Melbourne Star. 60 Stuka dive bombers then attacked, this time focusing specifically on Ohio. Near-misses buckled the tanker's plates and the forward tank filled with water. A downed Junkers 88 crashed onto the deck of Ohio. Another plane, a Junkers 87 bounced off the water, and crashed onto Ohio. The tanker avoided mines, torpedoes and circling torpedoes, two bombs straddled and lifted her clean out of the water. The boilers blown, the precious tanker was dead in the water at 10:50^[28]. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... For other ships of this name, see HMS Ledbury. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... Nazi propaganda image Air victory over Poland with an artistic vision of a Junkers Ju 87. ...

Dorset was disabled by three near misses, and the engine room was flooded. The high octane fuel caught fire and the merchantman was abandoned. Twelve Italian torpedo bombers attacked, and the Port Chalmers caught an aerial torpedo in its paravane ^[29]. A bomb nearby set Kenya 's forward engine room on fire, but the fire was quickly put out. Fighters from Malta provided some air cover to the blitzed convoy. Rochester Castle, Port Chalmers and Melbourne Star steamed on to meet escort from Malta, reaching the Grand Harbour in Valletta at 18:00. Another aerial attack on Ohio ensued. The Penn tried to tow Ohio, but the tanker tended to its side and snapped the tow line. During another attack, Ohio nearly split in half and broke its back as a bomb hit the same area of a previous torpedo hit. The crew, led by Master D. W. Mason abandoned the ship, while Italian torpedo bombers were about to dive in for yet another attack. Grand Harbour (in Maltese: Il-Port il-Kbir) is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. ... Valletta (Maltese: , commonly referred to as Il-Belt - The City) is the capital city of Malta. ... Dudley William Mason was the captain of the tanker SS Ohio during the World War II operation codenamed Operation Pedestal, which was a convoy intended to relieve the island of Malta. ...

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, commander of the German Air Command based in Sicily, denied air coverage to the Italian cruiser division, having little regard for the fighting capability of the Regia Marina, and preferred to use his aircraft for direct attacks on the British convoy^[2]. Without air cover and given the closeness of the air base at Malta, the Supermarina (Regia Marina High Command) withdrew its cruisers to Messina. They passed through the area patrolled by the British submarines HMS Safari and Unbroken and were attacked. Unbroken torpedoed the Bolzano, which was hit in her oil tank and ran aground; Attendolo lost sixty feet of bow. Neither ship returned to action during the war. At 18:46, a Junkers Ju 88 attack hit Ohio, which was severely damaged and reduced to a speed of four knots^[30]. The convoy then entered the protective range of Spitfires and Beaufighters from Malta. ==Biography== Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed Smiling Albert or Smiling Kesselring. At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8, 1881 [2... Messina, Italy Strait of Messina, Italy. ... HMS Safari was launched in November 1941, one of the third group of S-class submarines built by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead. ... HMS Unbroken (P42) was a Royal Navy U-class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, and part of the third group of that class. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... The Beaufighter was a long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Companys earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design. ...

Operation Pedestal, SS Ohio entering the Grand Harbour of Malta

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

August 14

The Brisbane Star arrived in Malta, its bow torn off by a torpedo, discharging its supplies in the harbour. The Ohio was surrounded by a flottilla of ships, aiming to nurse the stricken tanker to the Grand Harbour. American volunteers, themselves survivors from sunken American freighters of the Convoy, manned^[31] anti-aircraft guns on the Ohio during the tow. The weight of the tanker kept breaking the tow lines, while constant air attacks were made by twenty bombers. An attack destroyed the rudder, making a hole in her stern. The decks of the ship were now awash. Finally, the tanker was successfully towed while it was supported by two destroyers^[27] one on each side, with a minesweeper to act as a stabilizer. The remainder of the convoy was either sunk or falling back on Gibraltar. Grand Harbour (in Maltese: Il-Port il-Kbir) is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. ...

August 15

Main article: SS Ohio

The Ohio was towed in the Grand Harbour by its destroyers and a set of tugs^[32] at 09:30 to cheering crowds and a band playing Rule Britannia. The tanker discharged its precious cargo into two tankers and settled on the bottom just as the last of the cargo left her holds^[33]. The SS Ohio was an oil tanker. ... “Rule Britannia” is a patriotic British national song, originating from the poem Rule Britannia by James Thomson, and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. ...

Aftermath

The arrival of the four merchant ships, and the survival of the tanker Ohio, did ensure the salvation of the island, but it did not mean the end of the siege. The ultimate result of Operation Pedestal was that it ensured that Malta stayed in the war. For the high price of nine merchantmen sunk, one aircraft carrier (Eagle), two cruisers (Manchester and Cairo), and a destroyer (Foresight) sunk, the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy had indeed saved Malta, but only just. Roughly 32,000 tons of general cargo had reached the Grand Harbour, together with petrol, oil fuel, kerosene and diesel fuel, enough to give the island about ten weeks more life beyond the existing stocks of only a few weeks.

Operation Pedestal, though tactically disastrous, was turned into a strategic victory in that it served as a great uplift to the besieged island's morale. Indeed, for several months after this convoy, Malta was still dependent on essential stores and stocks being delivered by fast minelayers, like HMS Manxman, and of minelaying submarines. From the moment the shield of Spitfires patrolled over the unloading battered ships, it became obvious that ships could now arrive and be protected, meaning that more ships would come in due course, thus sustaining the will to endure.

German reports on August 17 stated that all the tankers in the recent Mediterranean convoy were sunk and not one of the transports reached their assumed destination in Egypt. A revived Malta led to a shift in the North African balance immediately preceding the Second Battle of El Alamein. In August 1942, with Malta still besieged, 35% of Axis convoys to North Africa did not get through. In September, with Malta resupplied, Allied forces sank 100,000 tons of Axis shipping, including 24,000 tons of fuel destined for Rommel, leaving him desperately short of supplies during his assault at El Alamein on October 23, 1942.^[34] Hence, it was no longer a question of ' How many days to Cairo? ' for the Axis armies, but of whether Rommel could hold the Allied attack back when it would materialise. Submarines and torpedo-carrying Bristol Beauforts escorted by their variants the Bristol Beaufighters, were now unleashed upon the Axis supply lines, at the end of which the harassed Axis forces were scarcely able to cope with the constant British build-up for an offensive towards the end of the year.^[35] is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants British Eighth Army: United Kingdom Australia New Zealand South Africa India Free French Greece Panzer Army Africa: Nazi Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Ettore Bastico Strength 220,000 men 1,100 tanks[1] 750 aircraft (530 serviceable) 116,000 men[1] 559 tanks...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bristol Type 152 Beaufort was a large torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from the earlier Blenheim light bomber. ... The Bristol Beaufighter is also the name of a car produced by Bristol Cars in the 1980s. ...

For the Axis powers in general, and for the Italians in particular^[26], the inability of the fleet to fully display its power and especially the inability of Axis air forces to provide for cover clearly demonstrated that the tide in this campaign had turned. Ultimately, Malta was still alive while any hope to maintain North Africa was quickly fading away, with the now looming possibility of having the Allies opening up a Third Front on the Italian mainland^[10]

Operation Pedestal was the subject of a 1953 black and white British film, Malta Story, which interspersed archive footage of the SS Ohio with scripted studio scenes. January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... // Film Malta Story (1953) Malta Story is a B/W war film on the heroic defense of Malta, the island itself its people and the RAF aviators who fought to defend it. ...

Awards and Recognitions

In recognition of their fortitude during the siege and air attacks during all of the Mediterranean campaign, Malta was awarded the George Cross in the months immediately preceding this operation. Vice Admiral Syfret was knighted (KCB) for his " bravery and dauntless resolution in fighting an important Convoy through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft, and surface forces."^[36] The Master of the tanker Ohio, Dudley William Mason was awarded the George Cross for showing " skill and courage of the highest order and it was due to his determination that, in spite of the most persistent enemy opposition, the vessel, with her valuable cargo, eventually reached Malta and was safely berthed. "^[36] Several other navy officers, crewmembers and commanders, including the commander of HMS Ledbury, Roger Hill, received mentions in dispatches and other military awards for the bravery and intrepidity shown in ferrying the merchantmen to Malta.^[37] The George Cross award The George Cross was awarded to the island of Malta by King George VI in a letter dated 15 April 1942 [1] to the islands Governor Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie, so as to bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people [2... The George Cross (GC) is the highest civil decoration of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... KCB is a TLA that may stand for: Keep Chicago Beautiful (kcb. ... Dudley William Mason was the captain of the tanker SS Ohio during the World War II operation codenamed Operation Pedestal, which was a convoy intended to relieve the island of Malta. ... For other ships of this name, see HMS Ledbury. ... Lt. ...

The Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to Frederick August Larsen, Jr., Junior Third Officer and to Francis A. Dales, Cadet-Midshipman, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, for "Heroism beyond the call of duty".^[38] Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal The Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine. ...

The Forces

Allied

Allied shipping that took part in this operation included:

• Battleships:
  • Rodney
  • Nelson
• Aircraft Carriers:
  • Eagle (sunk)
  • Victorious
  • Indomitable (damaged)
  • Furious (carrying land-operating Spitfires as reinforcements for the island.)
• Cruisers:
  • Phoebe
  • Sirius
  • Charybdis
  • Nigeria (damaged)
  • Kenya (damaged)
  • Manchester (severely damaged and scuttled)
  • Cairo (sunk)
• Destroyers:
  • Ashanti
  • Badsworth
  • Bramham
  • Bicester
  • Derwent
  • Foresight (severely damaged and scuttled)
  • Fury
  • Intrepid
  • Ithuriel
  • Icarus
  • Ledbury
  • Matchless
  • Pathfinder
  • Penn
  • Tartar
  • Zetland

• Merchant Ships

The MV Brisbane Star entering Grand Harbour, Valletta.

• • SS Almeria Lykes (sunk)
  • MV Brisbane Star (damaged, arrived 14 August)
  • MV Clan Ferguson (sunk)
  • MV Deucalion (sunk)
  • MV Dorset (sunk)
  • MV Empire Hope (sunk)
  • MV Glenorchy (sunk)
  • MV Melbourne Star (arrived 13 August)
  • SS Ohio (fuel tanker, damaged beyond repair, arrived 15 August)
  • MV Port Chalmers (arrived 13 August)
  • MV Rochester Castle (damaged, arrived 13 August)
  • SS Santa Elisa (freighter, drums of fuel, sunk)
  • SS Waimarama (freighter, drums of fuel, sunk)
  • MV Wairangi (freighter, ammo and drums of fuel,sunk)

HMS Rodney was a Nelson-class battleship of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Nelson was a Nelson-class battleship of the Royal Navy active in World War II. She was named in honour of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson. ... HMS Eagle was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy sunk during World War II. The Eagle was laid down at the Armstrong yards at Newcastle-on-Tyne on February 20, 1913. ... HMS Victorious (R38) was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. ... HMS Indomitable (R92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ... HMS Furious was a modified Courageous class large light cruiser (an extreme form of battlecruiser) converted into an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ... HMS Phoebe was a Dido class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Sirius was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Nigeria (pennant number 60) was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy completed early in World War II and which served throughout that conflict. ... HMS Kenya (C14) was a Crown Colony-class cruiser of the British Royal Navy named after Kenya (at the time a British possession). ... The second HMS Manchester (15) was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Cairo (D87) was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Egyptian city of Cairo, was a light cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Ashanti was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Bramham (L51) coat of arms The HMS Bramham pennant L51 was a Royal Navy ship laid down in Alexander Stephen & Sons Shipyards of Glasgow, Scotland on 7 April 1941. ... HMS Foresight was an F-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Fury was an F class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Intrepid (D10) was an I-class destroyer laid down by J. Samuel White and Company, Limited, at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 13 January 1936, launched on 17 December 1936 and commissioned on 29 July 1937. ... HMS Ithuriel (H05) was an I-class destroyer laid down as Gayret for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, launched on 15 December 1940 and commissioned on 3 March 1942. ... HMS Icarus (D03) was an I-class destroyer laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 9 March 1936, launched on 26 November 1936 and commissioned on 1 May 1937. ... For other ships of this name, see HMS Ledbury. ... HMS Penn was laid down on 26 December 1939 by Vickers Armstrong and launched on 12 February 1941. ... HMS Tartar (pennant number L43, later F43) was a Tribal-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service in World War II. Categories: | | | ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... MV Brisbane Star in peace time colours (from Fraser Darrah Collection) MV Brisbane Star was built by Cammell Laird & Company Ltd. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... MV Brisbane Star in peace time colours (from Fraser Darrah Collection) MV Brisbane Star was built by Cammell Laird & Company Ltd. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The SS Ohio was an oil tanker. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

Axis

• Cruisers:
  • Gorizia (severely damaged)
  • Bolzano
  • Muzio Attendolo (severely damaged)
  • Trieste
  • Eugenio di Savoia
  • Raimondo Montecuccoli

• Submarines:
  • Alagi
  • Avorio
  • Axum
  • Brin
  • Bronzo
  • Cobalto (sunk)
  • Dagabur (sunk)
  • Dandolo
  • Emo
  • Giada (damaged)
  • U-73

Gorizia was an Italian Zara class heavy cruiser, which served in the Regia Marina during World War II. Gorizia (left) and Bande Nere, during the Second Battle of Sirte This article is a stub. ... Trento class was an Italian heavy cruiser design of the Regia Marina from the late 1920s. ... Muzio Attendolo was a Condottieri class light cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina, which fought in World War II. She was sunk in Naples by bombers of the USAAF on 4 December 1942. ... Trento class was an Italian heavy cruiser design of the Regia Marina from the late 1920s. ... Eugenio di Savoia was a Condottieri class light cruiser, which served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She survived the war but was given as a war reparation to the Hellenic Navy in 1947. ... Raimondo Montecuccoli was a Condottieri class light cruiser of the Regia Marina, which fought in World War II. She survived the war and served in the post-war Marina Militare until 1964. ... Italian submarine Alagi was an Italian 600-Serie Adua class submarine, serving the Regia Marina during World War II. It was named after Amba Alagi mountain in Ethiopia. ...

Notes

is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Northermost part of Gulf of Suez with town Suez on map of 1856. ... For other uses, see Cape of Good Hope (disambiguation). ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Cap Bon seen from space (false color) Cap Bon is a peninsula in far northeastern Tunisia. ... For other ships of this name, see HMS Ledbury. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

External links

• Website about the proceedings of Operation Pedestal
• Operation Pedestal and SS Ohio save Malta
• Times of Malta Sta Marija Convoy Surviving Crewmen for Malta Reunion by Fiona Galea Debono, July 15, 2002.
• Times of Malta Survivor from Sta Marija Convoy tells his experience by Fiona Galea Debono, August 13, 2006
• Battaglia di Mezzo Agosto - Plancia di Comando