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I see that Sir Max Hastings will publish a book about Operation Pedestal later this year.

I have a few reservations about him as an author, but I don't doubt I will get the book at some stage.

I've been begging Osprey for a "Campign" title on this important, dramatic battle for years. What a pity that they have been beaten to the punch by someone with better initiative.

Posted on: 03/01/2021 08:17:09

Thank you for the heads up Paintybeard! I enjoy reading his books. The first good news of 2021.

Posted on: 03/01/2021 16:32:04

There have been a number of books written about Operation Pedestal over the years.  I have at least two: Peter C Smith’s “Pedestal: The Convoy that Saved Malta” (first published in 1970) and Michael Pearson’s “Ohio and Malta: The Legendary Tanker that Refused to Die” (first published in 2004).  I also have somewhere the Official Naval History of the Mediterranean Convoys of WWII.  It will be interesting to see how much Sir Max Hastings can add to what has already been published.

I have just received a copy of David Hobbs’ “Taranto: And Naval Air Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1940-1945” (Taranto forms only one chapter of the book and is probably in the title for commercial reasons only.  The sub-title is really what the book is about).  I mention this book because it covers the carrier and fleet air arm aspects of Operation Pedestal as well as the other WWII conflicts in the Mediterranean, some of which have received scant coverage elsewhere.  The book is well illustrated with 240 B&W photos scattered throughout the text and 6 maps (I haven’t counted them; this is what the publisher states).  The book is pricey but it is a quality publication, 450 odd pages and some very interesting photos.  I’m looking forward to reading it.
https://www.amazon.com/Taranto-Naval-Air-Warfare-Mediterranean/dp/1526793830/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=David+Hobbs&qid=1609898802&s=books&sr=1-1

Posted on: 06/01/2021 02:43:17

Thank you for the recommendations KenA, I shall certainly look out for the Dodds book.

I would also recommend Brain Crabb's book "Operation Pedestal: The Story of Convoy WS21S" ISBN code 978-1-907730- 19-1. Very thorough indeed. The only thing it lacks is some good maps, which is the thing Osprey does so well. 

Posted on: 06/01/2021 14:23:24

Agreed Painty.  Osprey does produce some great maps and this is one of the main reasons I buy Osprey titles.

In my previous post I gave an AmazonUS link to David Hobbs’ book “Taranto: And Naval Air Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1940-1945”.  This was to the US publication of the book.  I couldn’t find the AmazonUK link at the time.

The link to the UK published version of the book is:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Taranto/p/18611

There seems to be a fowl-up at AmazonUK, which does not list this title but nevertheless has the book available for pre-viewing but under the title of another book about Taranto:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taranto-1940-Glorious-Episode-Smithers-ebook/dp/B08MWKG77W/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Taranto&qid=1610004205&s=books&sr=1-3

Posted on: 07/01/2021 08:00:06