Operation Pedestal

The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942

By: Max Hastings

Narrated by: Max Hastings, John Hopkins

Renowned historian Max Hastings recreates one of the most thrilling events of World War II: Operation Pedestal, the British action to save its troops from starvation on Malta—an action-packed tale of courage, fortitude, loss, and triumph against all odds.

In 1940, Hitler had two choices when it came to the Mediterranean region: stay out, or commit sufficient forces to expel the British from the Middle East. Against his generals’ advice, the Fuhrer committed a major strategic blunder. He ordered the Wehrmacht to seize Crete, allowing the longtime British bastion of Malta to remain in Allied hands. Over the fall of 1941, the Royal Navy and RAF, aided by British intelligence, used the island to launch a punishing campaign against the Germans, sinking more than 75 percent of their supply ships destined for North Africa.

But by spring 1942, the British lost their advantage. In April and May, the Luftwaffe dropped more bombs on Malta than London received in the blitz. A succession of British attempts to supply and reinforce the island by convoy during the spring and summer of 1942 failed. British submarines and surface warships were withdrawn, and the remaining forces were on the brink of starvation.

Operation Pedestal chronicles the ensuing British mission to save those troops. Over twelve days in August, German and Italian forces faced off against British air and naval fleets in one of the fiercest battles of the war, while ships packed with supplies were painstakingly divided and dispersed. In the end only a handful of the Allied ships made it, most important among them the SS Ohio, carrying the much-needed fuel to the men on Malta.

As Hastings makes clear, while the Germans claimed victory, it was the British who ultimately prevailed, for Malta remained a crucial asset that helped lead to the Nazis’ eventual defeat. While the Royal Navy never again attempted an operation on such scale, Hasting argues that without that August convoy the British on Malta would not have survived. In the cruel accountancy of war, the price was worth paying.

Raw Valor Versus Cruel Fate

England masters a large convoy to supply Malta, the Germans and Italians have at it. The narrative was clear and well executed. All the elements of cast, setting, action and outcome were woven together to make a fine tale. It can probably use a few additional listens. The transitional roll of England as the United States is starting enter the war is deftly handled, as is most Allied politics. The Germans and Italians are are also given fair treatment. I only heard one glitch in reference to the name of plane, but given all the other insights offered, I would gladly recommend this story to anyone.

Sir Max Hastings at his best

Operation Pedestal is one campaign that is never cited much less mentioned. A potential disaster for the Allies, it ended up successfully supplying the cut off Malta with desperately needed supplies, most notably fuel. But the majority of the supplies were lost to the sea due to the Axis navy, namely the Italian navy. But though the campaign was a moderate success for the Allies it demonstrated the blaring weaknesses of the Axis as early as 1942. They simply didn’t have the resources to risk in any endeavor. So winning the war was never going to be possible. Hastings makes a completely overlooked and ignored operation a matter if life and death and it is riveting. John Hopkins’ narration is perfect.

Make a movie!

Should be made into a movie! can be told from all sides as a tribute to the merchant sailors of ww2.

Important story of convoy crucial to Malta.

Narration is clear.

Story is spectacularly dramatic, riveting, and darn near miraculous. Fortress Malta came close to falling.

Great detail, both large and small scale

Every bit as good as Ian Toll’s pacific theater trilogy, and that’s the highest praise I can give.