Operation Pedestal’s Journey

In early August 1942, the British assembled one of the largest and most heavily protected convoys of the war: 14 merchant ships, including the tanker Ohio, escorted by aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. SS Ohio sailed from the UK in the night between 2nd and 3rd August and entered the Straits of Gibraltar in the early hours of 10th August.

On that very same day, German reconnaissance aircrafts were detected by the ship’s radar soon after daylight, and these aircrafts continued to keep watch over the convoy for the rest of the day. In the evening of 11th August, the main convoy was heavily attacked from enemy air bombers and torpedo aircrafts. No ships were lost and three enemy aircrafts were shot down.

At midday on 12th August, the enemy’s main air attacks started with some 70 German and Italian bomber aircraft heavily escorted by fighters. During this attack, the first of the merchant ships was damaged. More attacks followed north of Bizerta, Tunisia by the evening.

Shortly afterwards, the convoy changed formation to pass through the Narrows, the enemy attacked again and two of the merchant ships were sunk. At this point, the convoy was quite scattered as a result of the change in formation.

After the convoy had come so far and so close to its final destination, five of the merchant ships were hit and four of them went down during the night. Another merchant ship was hit after daylight and Ohio was once again damaged.

By late morning, RAF Beaufighters and long-range Spitfires from Malta were patrolling above, however, Ohio was hit again and this time disabled while two other merchant ships were seriously damaged.

The three out of 14 merchant ships that survived, Port Chalmers, Melbourne Star and Rochester Castle, made way to Malta while being protected by the short-range Spitfires from the Island. They entered the harbour at about 4.30pm the afternoon.

The Siege Tightens

From 1940 to 1942, Malta was the most bombarded place during the Second World War and thus, our harbours, airfields, cities and civilian infrastructure were heavily targeted.

These attacks destroyed farms, storage depots, bakeries and supply ships in the port, making food production and distribution extremely difficult. People survived on a few ounces of bread per day, supplemented by dried peas, powdered milk, and water biscuits. Fresh meat was a rare luxury, and malnutrition and disease spread rapidly.

By mid-1942, famine was imminent. Fuel stocks were also almost gone, threatening to shut down Malta’s airfields and naval operations. This would have left the island defenceless – and handed control of the central Mediterranean to the Axis.

Earlier rescue attempts had failed. Operation Harpoon, from Gibraltar in June 1942, saw only two of six merchant ships reach Malta. Operation Vigorous, from Egypt, didn’t get a single vessel through. Supplies were so low that even military operations were about to be suspended.

 

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Tanker Ohio’s Arrival

The strenuous journey of Operation Pedestal shows just how difficult it was for Malta to receive aid from overseas. One always has to keep in mind that the reality at the time was different- that even without a war going on, it wasn’t as easy to receive supplies, and Malta could not rely on its natural resources to support its people.

The three ships- , Port Chalmers, Melbourne Star, and Rochester Castle- that survived from the “Pedestal” convoy secured supplies for Malta to maintain its defences for a couple of months. However, the most significant was the arrival of the tanker Ohio since it carried fuel and food.

The Ohio and her escorts followed the next day. Half-submerged and barely holding together, she entered Grand Harbour on the afternoon of 15th August, to the sound of church bells and the sight of thousands of waving Maltese.

The four surviving ships brought enough supplies to sustain Malta for about two months – buying the Allies precious time to organise further relief efforts. From footage that was taken on the day, one can see the people welcoming the severely-damaged Tanker Ohio with cheers and waves as they welcomed the desperately needed supplies.

The Impact Of The Arrival Of The Convoy 

The convoy was decisive in keeping Malta in Allied hands. Without it, Malta could have fallen to the Axis powers which could have meant an entirely different outcome for Malta.

In conclusion, the arrival of the Santa Marija Convoy was far more than just a supply run—it was a turning point in Malta’s survival during the Second World War. The battered silhouette of the Ohio became an enduring symbol of resilience and sacrifice. The convoy’s story is one of courage, persistence, and the will to survive against overwhelming odds.

Far from being a mere footnote, Operation Pedestal was a lifeline that ensured Malta could keep fighting – and shaped the outcome of the war in the Mediterranean.

Far from being a mere footnote, this event was crucial in keeping Malta in Allied hands and shaping the course of the war in the Mediterranean. It’s a story of sacrifice, struggle, and survival that deserves to be remembered.

How do you feel when you see the footage from Tanker Ohio’s arrival?