Operation Pedestal and the Tanker that refused to die the SS Ohio.

NEON DEON · 01-10-09, 05:44 PM

Operation Pedestal was a planned relief by convoy of Malta during 1942.

The Ohio was a 9,263 ton tanker commandeered by the English along with The Kentucky because the English had no fast tankers. They were thrust into the Med with a big bullseye painted on em!

"August 13

Passed through minefields between Africa and Sicily around midnight.
8 Italian torpedo boats make 15 attacks
- Cruiser Manchester hit, sinks by evening
- Santa Elisa (US) hit by torpedo, entire ship on fire and abandoned
- Almeria Lykes (US) torpedoed, sinks immediately
- British Wairangi and Glenorchy torpedoed, on fire. No survivors from Glenorchy
- Rochester Castle torpedoed but keeps going. It is now 4 AM.
Fighters from Malta fired on by convoy because communications out.
12 Junkers 88s attack.
- Waimarana hit, aviation gas on deck bursts into fire, ship explodes and sinks, 80 of 107 crew killed.
- Wreckage starts fires on Melbourne Star.
60 Stuka dive bombers attack, focus on Ohio. Near-miss buckles plates and forward tank fills with water.
Junkers 88 crashes onto Ohio.
Junkers 87 bounces off the water, crashes onto Ohio.
Ohio avoids mines, torpedoes and circling torpedoes.
2 bombs straddle her, lift her out of the water. Boilers blown, she is dead in the water at 10:50 AM.
Dorset disabled by 3 near misses, engine room flooded, high octane gas on fire, abandoned.
12 Italian torpedo bombers attack.
- Port Chalmers catches torpedo in paravane (submerged floats meant to catch mines).
- Bomb nearby sets Kenya's forward engine room on fire; fire put out.
Fighters from Malta provide some air cover.
Rochester Castle, Port Castle, Melbourne Star steam on to meet escort from Malta, reach Grand Harbour in Valetta at 6 PM.
Junkers 88 attacks on Ohio. Ohio nearly split in two as bomb hits in same area as torpedo.
Destroyer tries to tow Ohio, but Ohio wants to go sideways.
Crew abandons ship.
Italian torpedo bombers attack."

That was just one day on this action packed Cruise of the Med. Here is the rest of the trip.

http://www.usmm.org/malta.html

And this on the Ohio from Wiki.

http://www.usmm.org/malta.html

JonB · 01-10-09, 06:14 PM

A lot of action!

Thanks for sharing...

NEON DEON · 01-10-09, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonB

A lot of action!

Thanks for sharing...

NP

Just look at all the mayhem thoes 8 Italian torpedo boats did!

01-10-09, 05:44 PM	#1
NEON DEON Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 5	Operation Pedestal and the Tanker that refused to die the SS Ohio. Operation Pedestal was a planned relief by convoy of Malta during 1942. The Ohio was a 9,263 ton tanker commandeered by the English along with The Kentucky because the English had no fast tankers. They were thrust into the Med with a big bullseye painted on em! "August 13 Passed through minefields between Africa and Sicily around midnight. 8 Italian torpedo boats make 15 attacks Cruiser Manchester hit, sinks by evening Santa Elisa (US) hit by torpedo, entire ship on fire and abandoned Almeria Lykes (US) torpedoed, sinks immediately British Wairangi and Glenorchy torpedoed, on fire. No survivors from Glenorchy Rochester Castle torpedoed but keeps going. It is now 4 AM. Fighters from Malta fired on by convoy because communications out. 12 Junkers 88s attack. Waimarana hit, aviation gas on deck bursts into fire, ship explodes and sinks, 80 of 107 crew killed. Wreckage starts fires on Melbourne Star. 60 Stuka dive bombers attack, focus on Ohio. Near-miss buckles plates and forward tank fills with water. Junkers 88 crashes onto Ohio. Junkers 87 bounces off the water, crashes onto Ohio. Ohio avoids mines, torpedoes and circling torpedoes. 2 bombs straddle her, lift her out of the water. Boilers blown, she is dead in the water at 10:50 AM. Dorset disabled by 3 near misses, engine room flooded, high octane gas on fire, abandoned. 12 Italian torpedo bombers attack. Port Chalmers catches torpedo in paravane (submerged floats meant to catch mines). Bomb nearby sets Kenya's forward engine room on fire; fire put out. Fighters from Malta provide some air cover. Rochester Castle, Port Castle, Melbourne Star steam on to meet escort from Malta, reach Grand Harbour in Valetta at 6 PM. Junkers 88 attacks on Ohio. Ohio nearly split in two as bomb hits in same area as torpedo. Destroyer tries to tow Ohio, but Ohio wants to go sideways. Crew abandons ship. Italian torpedo bombers attack." That was just one day on this action packed Cruise of the Med. Here is the rest of the trip. http://www.usmm.org/malta.html And this on the Ohio from Wiki. http://www.usmm.org/malta.html __________________ Diesel Boats Forever! Last edited by NEON DEON; 01-10-09 at 06:19 PM.

01-10-09, 06:14 PM	#2
JonB Bosun Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Halmstad, Sweden Posts: 69 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	A lot of action! Thanks for sharing...