Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942 by Max Hastings

Description: 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 British submarines and surface warships were withdrawn, and the remaining forces were on the brink of starvation.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. Hardcover – Very Good. Dust jacket – Very Good. Stated 1st Edition. Not price clipped Book has 428 clean white pages with b/w photographs, map + index.Condition:- No Markings, Name or inscriptions. No shelf wear to book.Black boards with clear lettering. No foxing. Leading edges:- Intact (not bumped). Tight binding. D/J - small rip bottom of d/j (0.5 cm) otherwise a very good copy. Overall:- Nice clean copy with bright text.All images are from the actual book listed. Books will be wrapped in bubble wrap when posted. Book size:- 23.5 x 15.5 x 4 cm

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Location: Greenwith, SA

End Time: 2024-12-07T02:13:56.000Z

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