In August 1942, the Axis was at its maximum extent, having conquered much of Europe, penetrated deep into the Soviet Union, and expanded through North Africa. While the Japanese had been checked at Midway, and the Nazis outside Moscow, the weight of Allied superiority had yet to bear down. In these dark days, the island fortress of Malta was under a brutal siege, on starvation rations and barely able to defend itself. If Malta were to last through September, it would have to be resupplied, and all previous convoys had been turned back at a heavy cost.

Operation Pedestal was the last desperate hope to relieve Malta. This was no mere convoy; the covering force included two battleships and five of England's seven carriers. Only high speed cargo ships were included, with a speed of 18 knots. The Admiralty expected that the Axis would throw everything at Pedestal, an expectation which was well born out. The convoy endured grueling attacks by airplane, U-boat, and torpedo boat, before the survives limped into Malta.

Hastings has nothing but praise for the endurance of the ordinary sailors under desperate conditions. Command and control proved a perennial problem on all sides. The British convoy was uncoordinated with their air support. Meanwhile, on the Axis, the Italian Navy, Italian Airforce, and Luftwaffe all despised each other. Both sides failed to realize the critical importance of the oiler SS Ohio, which was the key critical objective of the convoy.

Hastings maintains his usual high standards, and this book is next to Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors for a study of a single naval action.