Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta 1942

In 1942, Churchill made a personal decision to save Malta from the Axis. The largest fleet the Royal Navy committed to any operation of the western war was assembled to escort fourteen fast merchantmen across a thousand of miles of sea. The Mediterranean battles that ensued were the most brutal of Britains war at sea, with four aircraft-carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers, scores of destroyers, and smaller craft. Max Hastings' book describes the saga of Operation Pedestal, which included catastrophic ship sinkings and struggles to rescue survivors and salvage stricken ships. The story of the tanker Ohio, indispensable to Maltas survival, is the most moving of all, and was kept under way only by two destroyers in the last days of the battle.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The Sunday Times bestseller, "One of the most dramatic forgotten chapters of the war," is brought to life in a new book by the incomparable Max Hastings. The Daily Mail reports that in August 1942, the beleaguered Malta was on the brink of surrender to the Axis, with its 300,000 people facing starvation due to the dire circumstances. In a moment of determination, Churchill made a personal decision that the "island fortress must be saved." This was not just a matter of strategy; it was a matter of national prestige, as Britain's fortunes and morale had reached their lowest ebb.

To accomplish this daunting task, the Royal Navy assembled the largest fleet it had committed to any operation of the Western War. This formidable fleet consisted of fourteen fast merchantmen, escorted by a thousand miles of sea defended by six hundred German and Italian aircraft, along with packs of U-boats and torpedo craft. The Mediterranean battles that took place between 11 and 15 August were the most brutal of Britain's war at sea. It involved four aircraft carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers, scores of destroyers, and smaller craft. The losses were staggering, with defeat seemingly looming.

Max Hastings unfolds this saga in his first full-length narrative of the Royal Navy, which he believes was the most successful of Britain's wartime services. As always, he blends the "big picture of statesmen and admirals with human stories of German U-boat men, Italian torpedo-plane crews, Hurricane pilots, destroyer and merchant-ship captains, ordinary but extraordinary seamen."

Operation Pedestal, as described in the book, paints a catastrophic picture of ship sinkings, including the devastating loss of the aircraft carrier Eagle. The struggles to rescue survivors and salvage stricken ships are heart-wrenching, and the story of the tanker Ohio, which was indispensable to Malta's survival, is particularly moving. Despite countless Axis attacks, the ravaged hulk was kept under way only by the tireless efforts of the crew.

In the final days of the battle, the exhausted and battered ships continued to fight, their valor and resilience inspiring those who witnessed their bravery. The "island fortress" was saved, and Britain's reputation as a naval power was restored.

Operation Pedestal is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who served in the Royal Navy during World War II. It is a reminder of the immense cost of war and the importance of preserving national pride and honor. Max Hastings' book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the war, and it provides a valuable insight into one of the most forgotten chapters of the conflict.

Weight: 772g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008364946