FEATURE
WS21S
OPERATION PEDESTAL PART 2
This article is a tribute to all seamen that sailed the seas during the war to keep us supplied. Whenever Poppy Day is mentioned, people immediately think of the soldiers that died. Only afterwards do the Merchant Seamen and Navy get a mention. Without the heroic action of these men, neither the Army nor the Airforce would have been able to continue the battle and we civilians would have starved. It must be remembered that there were seamen of many nations both from the Commonwealth, the United States and occupied Europe fighting under the Red and White Ensigns and flags of many other nations. This is also a tribute to the people of Gibraltar who played no small part in keeping the ships repaired and supplied.
BRITAIN NEVER STOOD ALONE. To most of us, the title means nothing. It was, however, one of the most important events in the battle for the Mediterranean in World War II. Italy entered the conflict on June 10th 1940 declaring war on Great Britain. Mussolini had a very strong naval capability in the Mediterranean which posed a problem for the Allies fighting in North Africa. Rommel depended on supplies from Italy to enable the Axis forces to continue the fight in North Africa. Unfortunately for him, Malta was in the middle of their supply route and was a thorn in his side. The Allies likewise had the problem that Malta had to be kept supplied in order to maintain the attacks on Rommel’s supply route. With Sicily only about 200 miles from Malta, both German and Italian aircraft were able to attack Malta with impunity, less than two hours away.
On 12th the convoy entered the dreaded “Canale di Sicilia” where HMS Kenya was hit by a torpedo from the Italian submarine Alagi. A torpedo hit the bow and blew off a large section around the waterline. She returned to Gibraltar.
control and attempts made to scuttle her were in vain, so she was finally torpedoed by HMS
Manchester and then made for Gibraltar, arriving on afternoon of 15th. The destroyer HMS Ithurie attacked the Italian submarine Cobalto with depth charges and after a gun battle rammed and sunk her, but the Ithurie received damage to the bow and had to return to Gibraltar for repairs.
HMS KENYA
As the ships passed Pantellaria, the island in the middle of the Straits of Sicilia, HMS Manchester was attacked by motor torpedo boats MS16 and MS22 of the Italian navy. Two torpedoes struck the ship amidships on the starboard side flooding the boiler room and magazine also damaging three of the propeller shafts and causing a 12° list. The ship was soon out of
HMS KENYA IN DRY DOCK GIBRALTAR
Pathfinder. The destroyers HMS Eskimo and Somali were sent back to help Manchester but arrived after she had sunk so they picked up survivors from
TOP: HMS ITHURIE. ABOVE: COBALTO
WORDS BY WORDS BYPAUL PAULFOSTER BAKER TOP: HMS EAGLE. ABOVE: HMS EAGLE SINKING 18
SEPTEMBER 2021
GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
