OPERATION PEDESTAL: THE FLEET THAT BATTLED TO MALTA 1942. -

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Complete number line 1.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,colour photograph [tanker Ohio is torpedoed on 12 August,1942] illustrated front of dw/dj with authors' names in capitalised,glossy,embossed,red lettering; capitalised, glossy,embossed black-lettered part-title,capitalised, glossy,flat printed black-lettered subtitle - all to front of dw/dj; spine/backstrip with colour illustrated detail from front withcapitalised,glossy,flat printed red-lettered author name and capitalised,glossy,flat printed black-lettered part-title,and publisher's capitalised,white-lettered name and white illustrated colophon respectively,to foot of same,rear panel of dw/dj with nightime b/w photograph [cruiser Fiji firng a slavo,nightof 12/13 August,1942] and white-lettered prose extractsoverlaid.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore -edges bright with minimal,minor blemish but generally clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – appears unread,apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean/unblemished, sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked,capitalised silver gilt lettered spine/backstrip,a red+grey striped headband,and immaculate repeated b/w map [Convoy to Malta - Operation Pedestal,11-15th August,1942 from S. W. Roskill,The War at Sea, Vol.II] illustrated endpapers.UK, 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,xii-xxxiiipp+2-428pp [paginated] includes illustrations list/table,an Introduction,The Pedestal Fleet- Force F,ForceZ,ForceX and Force R + page of ships' silhouettes,a Glossary,13 chapters some with sub-sections - namely chapters 1,2,4,6,7,and 13; 32pp contemporary b/w photographs in 4 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp62/63,pp158/59, pp238/39 and pp334/35 respectively,an Appendix, Acknowledgements,References and Notes,a Bibliography and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication,an epigram,a Contents list/table,and to the rear,2pp blanks. Visually the exterior appearance is more than acceptable,and particularly internally,is in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation.It is only the minor fault described that prevents a slightly higher grading.Despite that,it really is still an exemplary example for its cleanliness, brightness and lack of other detracting faults. In August 1942, beleaguered Malta was within weeks of surrender to the Axis, because its 300,000 people could no longer be fed. Churchill made a personal decision that at all costs, the 'island fortress' must be saved. This was not merely a matter of strategy, but of national prestige, when Britain's fortunes and morale had fallen to their lowest ebb. The largest fleet the Royal Navy committed to any operation of the western war was assembled to escort fourteen fast merchantmen across a thousand of miles of sea defended by six hundred German and Italian aircraft, together with packs of U-boats and torpedo craft. The Mediterranean battles that ensued between 11 and 15 August were the most brutal of Britain's war at sea,embracing four aircraft-carriers,two battleships, seven cruisers, scores of destroyers and smaller craft. The losses were appalling: defeat seemed to beckon. This is the saga Max Hastings unfolds in his first full length narrative of the Royal Navy, which he believes was the most successful of Britain's wartime services. As always, he blends the 'big picture' of statesmen and admirals with human stories of German U-boat men, Italian torpedo-plane crews, Hurricane pilots, destroyer and merchant-ship captains, ordinary but extraordinary seamen. 'Operation Pedestal' describes catastrophic ship sinkings,including that of the aircraft-carrier Eagle, together with struggles to rescue survivors and salvage stricken ships. Most moving of all is the story of the tanker Ohio, indispensable to Malta's survival, victim of countless Axis attacks. In the last days of the battle, the ravaged hulk was kept under way only by two destroyers, lashed to her sides. Max Hastings describes this as one of the most extraordinary tales he has ever recounted. Until the very last hours, no participant on either side could tell what would be the outcome of an epic of wartime suspense and courage. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **