WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk The Siege Of Malta: Operation Pedestal (Part 6)
Nov 13, 2025
Explore the gripping details of Operation Pedestal, a pivotal moment in WWII that tested Malta's resilience. Personal accounts highlight life under siege, while leadership tensions shaped military strategies. The perilous convoy faced relentless Axis attacks, with stories of bravery surrounding the tanker Ohio, which endured multiple damages yet continued its mission. The arrival of the convoy sparked jubilation, signaling hope for the island. Ultimately, the operation not only saved Malta but also altered the course of the Mediterranean campaign.
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Convoy Determines Mediterranean Strategy
- The fate of the Mediterranean campaign hinged on whether a single convoy could reach Grand Harbour.
- Operation Pedestal's success or failure would reshape Allied strategy in North Africa.
Seventeen-Year-Old Sees Massive Fleet
- Seventeen-year-old Freddie Treves joined Weimarama days after leaving Pangbourne and saw the convoy's massive fleet at sea.
- He described the sight of carriers, battleships, cruisers and 32 destroyers as overwhelming.
Axis Laid A Multi-Weapon Trap
- Axis forces marshalled a huge, multi-domain attack with aircraft, cruisers, destroyers, Schnellboote and submarines.
- Italian intelligence (an observer in Spanish Morocco) alerted Axis forces to the convoy's passage.
