The Ohio and Malta: The Legendary Tanker That Refused to Die

The Ohio and Malta: The Legendary Tanker That Refused to Die by Pearson, Michael. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781844150311.

The lynchpin of the Allied campaign in the Mediterranean and North African theaters, Malta was the vital base from which to attack Axis convoys supplying Rommels Panzer Army in Libya. The difficulties of keeping supplies, especially oil, flowing to Malta, however, were immense, and after enduring years of siege, the island was close to surrender by August 1942. This book describes the actions of the Pedestal convoy-Maltas a last chance to survive. Subjected to prolonged ferocious air and submarine attacks, the convoy suffered terrific losses. Ohio, the only tanker, took a direct hit from a torpedo, direct bomb hits, and was struck by two Luftwaffe aircraft shot down while attacking her. Practically broken in two, Ohio kept her vital cargo intact and was towed into Maltas Grand Harbor for unloading. Never before has such a careful study been made of the American-built vessel that came to symbolize the miraculous relief effort. 176 pages. 16 pages of illustrations. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.