Operation Pedestal 1942

The Battle for Malta’s Lifeline

Angus Konstam, Mr Graham Turner

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Paperback

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English

Osprey
27 February 2024

History; Second World War; Naval forces & warfare; Battles & campaigns; Military & naval ships

Series: Campaign

A fascinating story of a key turning point in the War in the Mediterranean, as the island of Malta was thrown a vital lifeline.

Since 1940, the island of Malta had been a thorn in the Axis' side. It sat astride the direct sea route between Italy and its North African colonies, and from 1941 the Royal Navy had used the island as a base for its attacks on Axis convoys. The island, though, relied on convoys to survive, and from early 1941 these came under increasingly heavy air and submarine attack. As the situation became critical in 1942, the decision was made to send through a heavily protected convoy, carrying fuel and supplies, in an effort to save the island. This mission was codenamed Operation Pedestal.

This fascinating work describes how, after leaving Britain on 2 August 1942, the convoy was repeatedly pummeled by Axis air and submarine attacks as it ground its way towards Malta, with most of the merchant ships sunk during the passage, along with an aircraft carrier and two cruisers. It also explores how despite this grim toll, the sacrifice was worth it.

The specially commissioned illustrations in this work cover the progress of the convoy step by step, the submarine and surface naval actions during Pedestal’s voyage, the Stuka attack on the carrier Indomitable and the air attacks against the convoy, and the broader strategic situation in the Western Mediterranean. The result is a unique visual exploration of one of the most famous episodes of the war in this theatre.

By: Angus Konstam
Illustrated by: Mr Graham Turner
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 394
Dimensions: Height: 246mm, Width: 182mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 340g
ISBN: 9781472855671
ISBN 10: 1472855671
Series: Campaign
Pages: 96
Publication Date: 27 February 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Angus Konstam hails from the Orkney Islands, and is an acclaimed author of over 100 history books, over 60 of which are published by Osprey. He has written widely on naval history, from Sovereigns of the Seas and Piracy: The Complete History to his most recent bestseller, Mutiny on the Spanish Main. A former naval officer and museum professional, he worked as the Curator in both the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He now works as a full-time author and historian.

Reviews for Operation Pedestal 1942: The Battle for Malta’s Lifeline

As usual, the book contains great artwork, maps and photographs to illustrate this critical convoy in the survival of Malta as a British base across the supply lines of Rommel in North Africa. * Miniature Wargames *