Malta's Savior

Operation Pedestal, August 1942

John Henshaw (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

331 Seiten

2024
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-9009-4 (ISBN)

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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. Taking it was essential for Axis victory. This day-by-day account of Operation Pedestal chronicles the planning, execution and climactic battle to hold Malta for the Allies.

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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Part I: 11 June 1940–12 July 1942

1. Background

2. Operation Hercules (Unternehmen Herkules; Operazione C3)

3. 1940: Malta Besieged

4. 1941: Struggling On: Operations Excess, Substance and Halberd

5. 1942: Abject Failures and Limited Successes: Operations Harpoon and Vigorous

Part II: Operation Pedestal—Day by Day

6. 13–28 July 1942: Preparations

7. 29 July–9 August 1942: Briefings, Departures, the Task Force Assembles, Operation Berserk

8. Day 1: Sunday, 9 August 1942: The Great Refueling Shuffle

9. Day +1: Monday, 10 August 1942: Into the Lion’s Den

10. Axis Responses

11. Day +2: Tuesday, 11 August 1942: First Actions

12. Day +3: Wednesday, 12 August 1942: Onslaught

13. Day +4: Thursday, 13 August 1942: The Battle of the Narrows

14. Day +5: Friday, 14 August 1942: Out of This Nettle, Danger, We Pluck This Flower, Safety

15. Day +6: Saturday, 15 August 1942: The Feast of Santa Marija

16. Aftermath

17. Conclusions

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

Erscheinungsdatum	31.08.2022
Zusatzinfo	147 photos, appendices, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	178 x 254 mm
Gewicht	581 g
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Neuzeit (bis 1918)
	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► 1918 bis 1945
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
ISBN-10	1-4766-9009-X / 147669009X
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-9009-4 / 9781476690094
Zustand	Neuware