15 Facts for the 15th; The Santa Maria Convoy

1. The mission to bring vital supplies to Malta was code-named Operation Pedestal. The Convoy berthed in Malta’s Grand Harbour on the 15^th of August 1942.
2. A convoy consisted of 14 merchant ships that departed England on the 3^rd of August 1942, past the Strait of Gibraltar through the night of the 9^th August, and finally to Malta, though only 5 ships made it to the harbour.
3. The most crucial item being supplied in Operation Pedestal was fuel that was being carried by the American Tanker SS Ohio manned by a British crew.
4. Over 50 ships had previously attempted to sail to the islands carrying the much needed supplies, though were bombed and sunken by German and Italian forces.
5. Malta held a significant position of importance throughout the Allied Force’s defense on Libya and Egypt throughout the North African Campaign (1940-1943).
6. Preventing the delivery of vital supplies from reaching the islands was a tactical move on behalf of the German and Italian forces that would have pushed Malta into surrendering.
7. The Allied Force’s military planners feared that Malta would be forced into such a position by the end of August had the much-needed supplies did not make it on this attempt.
8. The heaviest escort force ever was deployed to escort these ships on this mission. This consisted of two battleships, four aircraft carriers, seven cruisers and thirty-two destroyers.
9. An attack on the 12^th of August led to the loss of three merchant ships, a destroyer, and a cruiser. An additional two cruisers were damaged in the crossfires, namely the SS Ohio. Luckily, repairs were successful and the journey continued, although at a lower speed.
10. The SS Ohio attracted the enemies’ eyes, and was untimely bombed just 45 miles off the Maltese coast. A decision was then made to tow the boat to shore, whilst being sandwiched for support between two destroyers.
11. 4 merchant ships were sunken in this attack; Wairangi, Almeria Lykes, Santa Eliza, and Glenorchy. SS Ohio was hit and damaged by a torpedo, as well as having a dive bomber crash into it. Brisbane star too was damaged, but waited until nightfall off the coast of Tunisia before heading to the Maltese Islands.
12. SS Ohio was the last to arrive into Malta on the Feast Our Lady of the Assumption gives the miraculous convoy’s arrival its name, The Santa Maria Convoy.
13. Operation Pedestal was essentially a tactical disaster when taking the damages and losses into account. It was however one of the only substantially successful convoy to berth in the Maltese Islands, thus being declared victorious.
14. The supplies the convoy brought with it sustained the Maltese for an additional ten weeks, whilst the fuel used for locally-based fighter planes ensured the protection of ships carrying essential supplies to our islands.
15. Today marks the 75^th Anniversary since the Maltese greeted their salvation in the Grand Harbour, from famine, and surrendering to the Axis.