Sign up to My Heritage for a 14-day free trial and 50% off: bit.ly/Historigraph2_MH Hope you enjoyed this video everyone! It's been about three months in the making, and I'm super happy with how it has turned out. Thanks as always for the views and support :)
The most crutial information is missing in documantary. In reality, Ohio was SUNK and broke in half after "docking" at Malta. It was TATAL LOSS, but not the cargo. After Ohio reached Malta, the ship broke in two from the damage she had sustained. There were insufficient shipyard facilities to repair the tanker, so the two halves were used for storage, and later barracks facilities for Yugoslavian troops
It’s interesting to see the increase in animation quality on this video compared to the Operation Pedestal video 5 years ago. Shows how much historiograph has improved since then
@@historigraph very true and from this video alone the idea has merits. A personal video that I liked was your first about the Hungarian uprising, an updated version with more first hand accounts could be good?
The British did learn from the Kentucky's loss though. Ohio was extensively rebuilt and buttressed to give her a better chance of surviving damage. I remain astonished that the Ohio's story has not been made into a major film though...
Minor mention in the Malta Story. I think if the crew had been American we’d have had a film (or three). I actually did a. Treatment for a film about it. Problem was a/ what to leave out and b/ what to do with it when I finished it! Don’t suppose you know any film producers, do you?
@@geordiedog1749 Francis Alonzo Dales (December 3, 1923 - March 29, 2003) was a cadet midshipman in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who served on the freighter SS Santa Elisa, and subsequently the tanker SS Ohio, during Operation Pedestal, a convoy to the besieged island of Malta in the Second World War. For his actions defending the convoy, considered one of the most important British strategic victories of the war, he was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
it was made into a film,black and white,cant remember its name,ive been looking for it for ages,can anyone help with name,starred humphrey bogart if memory serves me right
SS Ohio's story is a testament to sheer bloody-mindedness, and I've seen it said a few times that had Ohio sunk, the course of the battle in the Mediterranean could have swung, or at the very least seen the Allies slowed considerably. Every single sailor showed incredible grit and bravery.
I know its a small detail but i love how the map's show Italy and Germany's division in their occupation of Greece. A nice little detail that i throughly appreciated
Occasionally, a ship just refuses to go under. A combination of skilful damage control and the dockyard workers being extra carful when they built it. Ohio had a combination of both, and saved Malta.
In this case though because fuel oil is less dense than seawater making it more buoyant and float, in fact the tanker sunk as it drained its last drops of fuel. Still, amazing animation, a story i would never know if not historigraph.
It's also the destroyers and minesweepers that really pushed her through, not just supporting but also actually manoeuvring the ship around. Ohio could not steer, and it was up to Ledbury to steer her around.
Thank you for telling the stories of the brave men of the Merchant Navy and the merchant mariners from all countries. These regular sailors were at the frontlines of the battles in WWII from day one, and is often forgotten in the larger spectacle.
Remember reading that the Ledbury steamed into the inferno more than once to rescue survivors and that the paint on her hull caught fire so extreme was the heat.
An inordinate number of aviation and aerospace pioneers came from Ohio. Experts believe this is because it is the fastest way to get as far as possible from Ohio.
I am a Maltese native citizen and you have no idea how much it brings me joy to see documentaries such as this regarding my little Maltese archipelago. My late grandfather, also Maltese, served in WWII on the island of Malta and had recounted to me that when Ohio finally entered the Grand Harbour, as ill stricken as she was, the entire bastions around the grand harbour, stretching all the way from Valletta to Senglea (Isla), Cospicua (Bormla), Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Kalkara (Bighi) erupted with cheers by the population that descended to greet the Merchant Navy men. The story shows just one of the many acts of Gallantry us Maltese upheld against the Axis. 🇲🇹
The old books I have mention Malta in any chapter about North-Africa, from the original Faith, Hope and Love and the Italian attempt to block the Gran Harbor with MotorTorpedoBoats, through the arrival of the German Airforce, Harpoon and Pedestal, the Victoria Cross all the way to the fall of Tunis and Bizerte Any time I try to make up an alternate history it always revolves around Malta So yeah, your country is well known to some
Finally a video about SS Ohio! The tanker that really said "It's gonna take more than bombs and torpedoes to kill me!". I am so fascinated by this tankers refuse to give up. She didn't give up until she had unloaded the last drop of her cargo. Your animation skills has improved greatly and I love your videos. Keep 'em coming, mate and I salute your grandfather who fought in the war!
I've always been fascinated by Pedestal, ever since I found a random book on the topic just called "The Malta Convoy" In my grade-school library. Why we had it, I don't know. But I AM 100% convinced that the tale of Ohio's struggle to reach Malta is what turned me off to the superheroes all my classmates were interested in at the time. Who cares for Superman or Batman, when HMS Ledbury, Penn, and Rye...and SS Ohio herself...were far more heroic than any of them could be? But Ohio's story gets even better: her three sisters (including Kentucky, lost previously), were all sent on the mission to Malta...but even before that, the other three were known to have run badly-needed oil to the Axis via Spain. They were owned by Texoco, the CEO of which was an avowed Fascist sympathizer. It's almost like Ohio knew this, and she was determined to both succeed where her sisters failed, and make up for their transgressions. the line from "The Malta Convoy" still sticks with me, "It was as the last gallon of oil was pumped out that the ship finally settled on the bottom."
The Ohio and the men who served on her are a legend One thing at the end of the war, the Ohio was still in Malta being used as a floating warehouse as she couldn’t be used again as a ship due to the damaged, she was towed out into the Mediterranean where she was then torpedoed by a British destroyer, and she still refused to sink. It took two more torpedoes for her to go down. A really amazing ship and a true legend The third biggest mistake, the Germans made in the Second World War was not taken out Malta. The other two where not pushing into Dunkirk earlier and letting the British escape and the over is invading the Soviet Union. really great video thankyou
To be fair, Germany had a choice in the first 2 mistakes. But not really any other option but to invade the Soviet Union. Since conquering Europe, their oil situation had only gotten worse. Even poaching/looting all the resources they could, the occupied territories still made their oil situation even more upside down. That and just all the other resources their industry needed and the view that it was an inevitable conflict anyways. That Stalin was just buying time. Which, of course Hitler would assume Stalin was doing, because that's what HE was doing with the non-aggression pact and division of Poland. Kind of like saying Japan shouldn't have attacked the U.S. They had no choice but to take the Dutch East Indies for their resources. And US held Philippines was RIGHT in the middle of their transport routes to ship those resources back to the home islands. Though, I do often wonder if the U.S. would have even declared war if Japan attacked the Dutch and British without attacking Pearl Harbor.
@jonny-b4954 Germany didn't really have a choice with Dunkirk. The Germany army was ridiculously over extended and couldn't sustain an attack - especially an attack into a tenatious enemy that had naval support and no where to run. The Germans *tried* to destroy the British at Dunkirk, Goering promised the Luftwaffe could do it and so the job was left to them to let the army rest. Maybe if Goering, or at Hitler, had a better understanding of the capabilities of the Luftwaffe they might have achieved more squeezing one last gasp from the army, but it's unlikely the British could have simply been swept up
@@kirotheavenger60 Yeah, I get that. But they didn't have to truly attack and annihilate the enemy. Just delay them. They could have likely pressed an attack, to an extent. But yeah, they were so absurdly over-extended at that point that in fact it's the only reason the entire French invasion worked. They took absurdly foolish risks. Especially Rommel. And it was Rommel's attacks at Siege of Lille that held like 7-8 German divisions from attacking Dunkirk. Though, I guess that was more the determined French defense for a few days than Rommel.
4th declaring war on the usa. Hitler wasn't obligated to do that. the axis treaty would come into effect if a country attacked Italy or japan so japan attacking usa didn't make it necessary for Germany to declare war.
Francis Alonzo Dales (December 3, 1923 - March 29, 2003) was a cadet midshipman in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who served on the freighter SS Santa Elisa, and subsequently the tanker SS Ohio, during Operation Pedestal, a convoy to the besieged island of Malta in the Second World War. For his actions defending the convoy, considered one of the most important British strategic victories of the war, he was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
Man, I've missed your videos this year. And let me tell you; you hit this video out of the park and you had my 100% attention during the full length of the video. Great job Man!
very good video i have heard of this convoy and THIS FAMOUS OIL TANKER. also, after this video After Ohio reached Malta, the ship broke in two from the damage she had sustained. There were insufficient shipyard facilities to repair the tanker, so the two halves were used for storage, and later barracks facilities for Yugoslavian troops.[34] On 19 September 1946 the forward half of Ohio was towed 10 miles (16 km) offshore and sunk by gunfire from the destroyer HMS Virago. On 3 October, the stern half was scuttled in deep water using explosive charges laid by the salvage vessel RFA Salventure.[35]
I'm an American Army officer and amateur WW2 historian. I have read and watched many, many books and documentaries about operation Pedestal. So often the Eurocentric documentarians and authors either leave out or diminish the fact that the Ohio was an American ship. Many even leave out her name just saying "a tanker carrying critical fuel" implying a purely British operation. Yet it wasn't and I appreciate your efforts to give credit where credit is due. The Allies worked together to defeat the Axis powers. It was a team effort, not uniquely British and not uniquely American. Keep up the good work. BTW, this operation (and many others) made it possible for my own grandfather, a B17G tailgunner who was shot down over Germany in 44' and crash-landed in Poland, to make his way around the Med by truck, train and boat unhindered by Axis air attacks to return to England. There he continued bombing Germany in a new B17G. It is crazy how so much can depend on the bravery of so few. Never let anyone tell you that individual actions dont matter because they do.
Yeah very much an American ship. I decided to give it the British colouring in this vid to distinguish it from the two US ships that also had American crews during this op
Don't forget the Americans captured the enigma machine oh no that was hms bulldog but heyho we all know history is written by the Victor's! But big respect for bankrupting the UK with all the expensive help! I'm pretty sure the only nation that repaid America back in full was us!
It was a US built ship owned, crewed and operated by the British, the British purchased and operated many ships produced in the US, for example Kentucky which was sunk on a previous mission. I’ve not encountered any account of Pedestal which just said oil tanker.
Hollywood is the worst culprit for forgetting the collective contribution, and frankly we in the West put far too little emphasis on the Russian contribution, most likely as a result of what has happened since and is still happening now (ie. Communism, authoritarianism and invasions etc). Everyone did cool stuff and the war would’ve had a vastly different outcome without one of the allies’ efforts.
@@robertpatrick3350 did I say it was US crewed? No oil tanker = no oil. To your last I would say, read more then because its pretty common. Most headlines about the event dont mention any US involvement whatsoever either. But of course theres always someone like you who wants to argue. I mean what is your point even except to be contrarian?
The absolute pinnacle of gallantry and selflessness in service, for all the sailors and airmen of that convoy, especially the crews of the merchant ships.
What a great story, and retold in such a dramatic yet factual way. Three things stick out. One was the spirit of the British sailors that kept the Ohio afloat, knowing that a well-placed bomb could detonate the cargo. Second was Fred Larsen volunteering to help man the Ohio with a fractured spine. The other is the end...can you imagine after all that the Ohio went through her in the end being sunk by British shore batteries?
The bravery that is required to be a sailor on an unarmed ship thats a key target for the enemy is insane ! The volunteers went even further, much respect
The Ohio wasn't completely unarmed. It had various anti-aircraft guns installed. However, that is not to say that the sailors in the pedestal convoy weren't brave.
Nice to see Pedestal revisited, though I'd love to hear more about Brisbane Star's adventure, as she seemed to be the real stand out character in the original video.
my great grandad was on the Kenya he said on this run their own anti aircraft guns ran so hot that the metal was warping through continued use.... and it was thanks to the damage it took and its following refit once it had limped back home that he met my great grandmother who were together for 70 years! i always love finding more little snipets of this story its truly amazing
The story of Operation Pedestal is a truly incredible one. I watched a documentary about it several years ago and it showed the sinking on HMS Eagle. I cannot begin to imagine the feelings of the rest of the convoy when that carrier was sunk, so so early on in the voyage. One of the most potent defensive units available, gone! And that was just a taste of things to come. All those on that fateful voyage were incredibly brave, especially the volunteers who helped crew Ohio. It's truly amazing what people can do when push comes to shove. An amazing story to read about.
I can highly recommend Max Hastings book (titled Operation Pedestal), I'd never heard of it before picking up the book in a shop, it's an incredible read and right up there with Flags of our Fathers and Band of Brothers for the bravery and fight those men put up
If I remember correctly the SS Ohio was a extremely fast ship for her era, setting speed records, and the American crew was disappointed on being replaced by a British crew feeling that they could sail her better than anyone else. Thankfully she made it to Malta none the less.
@@benwilson6145 5 knots after it was heavily damaged. The SS Ohio set many speed records before Pedestal it was much faster then most of the ships in the Pedestal convoy.
@@VFRSTREETFIGHTER The Ohio was a T2 SE A1 tanker built en-masse.. They made 15 knots, nothing special. I have a copy of the Ship Movement card confirming this. The Ship Moment card is available online. Where is the record of Ohio achieving super speed?
@@benwilson6145 While he is wrong about it setting speed records, that specific class of ship were legitimately the fastest tankers around in 1940 at a staggering 16 knots with 9,000~ shaft horsepower. I guess, in a way, that is setting a record - fastest Oiler at the time.
I knew of Operation Pedestal before this video, but I never knew the deatils of it. I had no idea it was such a brutal, devestating and crazy story. Tahnk you for sharing. Really interesting!
The “Ohio” was an American built Texas Company (Texaco) T-2 tanker that was given over to the British by the US Government for this critical mission. A few of these T-2 Tankers were still operating 50 years later. Early in my professional career I worked on several.
The US Government weren't given much of a choice, the MoWT just requisitioned her, changed her port of registry to London and replaced the American crew.
Two pivotal events allowed D-Day to be a success: Stalingrad denying Nazi access to the Caucasus oilfields and Operational Pedestal denying supplies to Rommel, his eventual defeat, and denying access to the Middle Eastern oilfields, going on to be the staging post for the invasion of Italy. Pedestal and the SS Ohio were pivotal, absolutely pivotal to the outcome of WW2. It was a privilege to go to Malta and visit the War Museum, which tells the story of Pedestal. An amazing country and people.
A great effort about a topic that inspired me when I read about it many years ago. As usual you have given information I have not found elsewhere. Thank you. Keep up the incredible work. Much appreciated. So many heroes. So close to failure yet success. As I see it, indeed it would make a great movie. Would anyone believe it even though based on fact and incredible bravery by many? Perhaps Malta's survival might convince them and the sacrifices and heroism recorded.
Thank you for another awesome video. This is the your second video on the Malta convoys but still about Operation Pedestal ! I am really hoping you will cover the other convoys that followed or even preceded Pedestal.
To think that after all that effort from multiple vessels worth of crew, hours spent enduring near constant air assault and a healthy sprinkle of luck the shore batteries if they had been a very slight bit more accurate with their gunnery that the Ohio could have fallen in the end from friendly fire. A terrible fate for any crew member to suffer but to go through all of that to nearly be sunk by friendly batteries that close to the destination is terrifying.
A smaller tonnage does not mean less bravery, even oil tanker crews can be as heroic as the mightiest battleship crews, respect all crews who fought with their ship until their end
Speak for yourself. Between Piorun, Hatsuzuki, and Taffy 3, I’m convinced that they just stuck all their most ballsy and insane sailors on Destroyers and cargo ships.
I read Max Hastings book on the operation two years ago. All those sailors were bravest men out there. There is an old black and white movie of the convoy. But I can't believe there isn't a modern one. Also, the game Axis & Allies has Melbourne Star has a unit and card in the game
Excellent presentation of a BRITISH operation (eyes a certain Ex-Colonial keyboard warrior in the comments below). Thank you Historigraph for taking the time to create and post this video for all of us to enjoy.
May 1942 Operation Bowery was an Anglo-American operation during the Second World War to deliver fighter aircraft to Malta, an operation known informally as a Club Run. Spitfires were needed to replace the remaining obsolete Hurricane fighters, to defend Malta from Axis air raids.
When discussing naval warfare the sinking of cargo ships is almost always discussed as a statistic of "x ship sunk y tons if cargo", and it's easy to forget all this ships had an extremly brave crew and they completed extremly critical missions.
Thanks for this great video. What a amazing story. This ship should be made into a movie. Thanks for the animations. Can you do one about the Battle of Guadelcannel 1942.
I had the privilege of visiting the National War Museum at Fort St. Elmo in Malta. It was there where I had first learned of the intrepid ship Ohio through a beautifully rendered “holographic” display. The lives lost in the course of protecting the Ohio made all the difference in buying Malta and Allied troops the crucial time needed to hold off the Italians and Germans through the war. Amazing.
It is nearly impossible for many people today to comprehend just how *desperate* conditions were during WWII. What an epic tale of heroism and determination.
Incredible Humanistic History The Freedom Of Man Know’s No Bounds Such A Great Story How have I not Been Told of This Beautiful Effort Nice Presentation Good Work Great Man Thank You The Comfort Of Man Know’s No Bounds
What an amazing story and very brave men, my Great Uncle died when the Ramb IV was sunk in May 1942, off the coast of Alexandria he is among the 155 wounded men and 10 crew that were lost
Great to see pedestal get coverage on a history channel, I too read Max Hastings book (spotted your copy) and found it one of the most astonishing accounts of the war I've read, an under covered act of bravery that in my opinion deserves the same level of coverage as the Italy campaign, Market Garden or dare I say it even Overlord. I couldn't have begun to imagine what the sailors were feeling watching ship after ship go down but still keep pressing on. Heroes all of them!
the Malta Campaign is probaly in my view one of the most important campaigns, firstly, it ensures the Allies keep the Med , N Africa, Gibralter and the Suez, therefore ensuring that India , Australia and so on don't fall , and ensures Italy falls But the most important thing is that Malta, an Island of 500k people, 17 miles across, surrounded on all sides by the Axis, a 1000 miles to Alexandria , 1000 miles to Gibralter, could not be taken by the Axis. If the Axis could'nt take Malta, operation Sealion had no chance
Crete kind of saved Malta. Operation Herkules was never given much impetus following the massive losses the falljaeger took in Crete. Oberkommando just didn’t fancy it and thought they’d let the RA and Luftwaffe do the job instead.
Many years ago (mid 70's, I think), I read a full-length book about this one convoy. It was fascinating reading and went into a lot more detail than what is possible in a 14-minute video. i think it was simply named "Malta Convoy", but I may be wrong The only thing I remember being different in this account, was that they quoted 4 aircraft carriers, not 3. I don;t know where the discrepancy was. I just found it on Amazon ($9 hardcover or $6 paperback), by Peter Shankland and Anthony Hunter, 256 pages, published in 1961 by Collins.
Never heard this story before, and I'm born and raised and still living in the state that gave this ship its name. We really ought to be celebrating it more around here.
The Max Hastings book on this convoy operation (in the description credits) is a chilling account showing just how much of a close run thing it was and how anarchic it got after the convoy's command system broke down.
Bloody awful book! Don’t read it. Full of errors! Read C S Smiths book on it instead if you want a proper history book. I cannot stand Hastings. He’s an awful historian and his pedestal book proves it.
It would've been a very cruel twist of fate at the end had one of the coastal batteries actually managed to score a hit on the ship's cargo and subsequently causing a large explosion that engulfed all four after surviving so much
There was very little actual danger from the shore batteries. The main problem came when escorts started dropping random depth charges to ward off subs. The vibrations stated to cause OH10s plating to come apart.
@@historigraphHMS Ledbury was in both PQ17 and Pedestal. As a native from the town from which it’s named, it would be incredible to have a series based around her.
It’s stories like this one that make me love history. Malta played such a vital role in the Med that had it been lost, the war might have followed. A big reason it wasn’t was a desperate effort by civilian ship workers to give death itself the middle finger
Here is the ironic thing about “free trials”. I wanted to do one for Ancestry. However, before I was to start the free trial, I had to show my credit card for when the trial period ended. I was like “Screw that! They ain’t getting my card just for a free trial!” So yeah, remember that hidden issue with free trials.
I love your content mate. As an Aussie it would be great to see a video on the battle between the HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran. I have always wondered why it was that the Germans were allowed to essentially cloak military vessels as civilian ones.
To me, the most amazing thing to note is how common was the uncommon courage back then. I shames me to say that such qualities are rare among those us born after the 80s, having grown up in the peaceful world that they have sacrificed and build for us. Respect to them, the greatest generation indeed.
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Hope you enjoyed this video everyone! It's been about three months in the making, and I'm super happy with how it has turned out. Thanks as always for the views and support :)
I think I requested a while back 👌🏻
Great Videos as always!
The most crutial information is missing in documantary. In reality, Ohio was SUNK and broke in half after "docking" at Malta. It was TATAL LOSS, but not the cargo. After Ohio reached Malta, the ship broke in two from the damage she had sustained. There were insufficient shipyard facilities to repair the tanker, so the two halves were used for storage, and later barracks facilities for Yugoslavian troops
Only in Ohio o7
No offence. German and italian dive bombers are so bad. Compared to the japanese. Americans on the other hand are a mix and only improved later.
It’s interesting to see the increase in animation quality on this video compared to the Operation Pedestal video 5 years ago. Shows how much historiograph has improved since then
Yeah this is why I've started covering topics for a second time
@@historigraph oh. that's why i thought it looked familiar. wondered why its said you posted the video only 44 minutes ago
@@historigraph very true and from this video alone the idea has merits. A personal video that I liked was your first about the Hungarian uprising, an updated version with more first hand accounts could be good?
@@alphaxalex1634 Yes that's not a bad idea at all
Damn you remembered that video too
The British did learn from the Kentucky's loss though. Ohio was extensively rebuilt and buttressed to give her a better chance of surviving damage.
I remain astonished that the Ohio's story has not been made into a major film though...
Lets change that:)
Minor mention in the Malta Story. I think if the crew had been American we’d have had a film (or three). I actually did a. Treatment for a film about it. Problem was a/ what to leave out and b/ what to do with it when I finished it! Don’t suppose you know any film producers, do you?
And bendy steam pipes! Don’t forget the bendy steam pipes.
@@geordiedog1749 Francis Alonzo Dales (December 3, 1923 - March 29, 2003) was a cadet midshipman in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who served on the freighter SS Santa Elisa, and subsequently the tanker SS Ohio, during Operation Pedestal, a convoy to the besieged island of Malta in the Second World War. For his actions defending the convoy, considered one of the most important British strategic victories of the war, he was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
it was made into a film,black and white,cant remember its name,ive been looking for it for ages,can anyone help with name,starred humphrey bogart if memory serves me right
SS Ohio's story is a testament to sheer bloody-mindedness, and I've seen it said a few times that had Ohio sunk, the course of the battle in the Mediterranean could have swung, or at the very least seen the Allies slowed considerably. Every single sailor showed incredible grit and bravery.
That was one tough tanker.
I know its a small detail but i love how the map's show Italy and Germany's division in their occupation of Greece. A nice little detail that i throughly appreciated
Only thing missing is Athens being grey
Wierd that Bulgaria isn’t colored in though
Occasionally, a ship just refuses to go under. A combination of skilful damage control and the dockyard workers being extra carful when they built it. Ohio had a combination of both, and saved Malta.
In this case though because fuel oil is less dense than seawater making it more buoyant and float, in fact the tanker sunk as it drained its last drops of fuel.
Still, amazing animation, a story i would never know if not historigraph.
It's also the destroyers and minesweepers that really pushed her through, not just supporting but also actually manoeuvring the ship around. Ohio could not steer, and it was up to Ledbury to steer her around.
The crew was just too bloody minded
Thank you for telling the stories of the brave men of the Merchant Navy and the merchant mariners from all countries. These regular sailors were at the frontlines of the battles in WWII from day one, and is often forgotten in the larger spectacle.
Lost more merchant mariners than RN.
These were Merchant Navy men! Merchant Marine are Americans.
@@benwilson6145 Thanks, goof has been rectified
Remember reading that the Ledbury steamed into the inferno more than once to rescue survivors and that the paint on her hull caught fire so extreme was the heat.
The term "Send him to Ohio" just got allot scarier
Just hope no gen alpha hears about this
As an Ohioan, I can think of no worse fate.
An inordinate number of aviation and aerospace pioneers came from Ohio. Experts believe this is because it is the fastest way to get as far as possible from Ohio.
For me it's insane how much damage the 1st Sub's attack did with only those 4 torpedoes. It his 3 ships. Why didn't take evasive action.
@@drakZes probably didn't see the torpedoes, they're not always like in the movies with a big white streak coming out behind them.
I am a Maltese native citizen and you have no idea how much it brings me joy to see documentaries such as this regarding my little Maltese archipelago.
My late grandfather, also Maltese, served in WWII on the island of Malta and had recounted to me that when Ohio finally entered the Grand Harbour, as ill stricken as she was, the entire bastions around the grand harbour, stretching all the way from Valletta to Senglea (Isla), Cospicua (Bormla), Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Kalkara (Bighi) erupted with cheers by the population that descended to greet the Merchant Navy men.
The story shows just one of the many acts of Gallantry us Maltese upheld against the Axis. 🇲🇹
Respect from England sir.
The island fortress 💪all the best from the UK 🇬🇧
The old books I have mention Malta in any chapter about North-Africa, from the original Faith, Hope and Love and the Italian attempt to block the Gran Harbor with MotorTorpedoBoats, through the arrival of the German Airforce, Harpoon and Pedestal, the Victoria Cross all the way to the fall of Tunis and Bizerte
Any time I try to make up an alternate history it always revolves around Malta
So yeah, your country is well known to some
And the Island and its gallant inhabitants were appreciated and recognised by a grateful UK in the form of the George Cross award.
Finally a video about SS Ohio! The tanker that really said "It's gonna take more than bombs and torpedoes to kill me!". I am so fascinated by this tankers refuse to give up. She didn't give up until she had unloaded the last drop of her cargo. Your animation skills has improved greatly and I love your videos. Keep 'em coming, mate and I salute your grandfather who fought in the war!
bombs, torpedoes, gunfire, and TWO WHOLE PLANES
I've always been fascinated by Pedestal, ever since I found a random book on the topic just called "The Malta Convoy" In my grade-school library. Why we had it, I don't know. But I AM 100% convinced that the tale of Ohio's struggle to reach Malta is what turned me off to the superheroes all my classmates were interested in at the time. Who cares for Superman or Batman, when HMS Ledbury, Penn, and Rye...and SS Ohio herself...were far more heroic than any of them could be?
But Ohio's story gets even better: her three sisters (including Kentucky, lost previously), were all sent on the mission to Malta...but even before that, the other three were known to have run badly-needed oil to the Axis via Spain. They were owned by Texoco, the CEO of which was an avowed Fascist sympathizer. It's almost like Ohio knew this, and she was determined to both succeed where her sisters failed, and make up for their transgressions. the line from "The Malta Convoy" still sticks with me, "It was as the last gallon of oil was pumped out that the ship finally settled on the bottom."
Sadly there are a whole bunch of fascist sympathisers alive and well and in positions of influence in the USA right now.
How has a movie not been made about this?! I can already see the scene of the merchantmen volunteering to go aboard the stricken ship!
The Ohio and the men who served on her are a legend One thing at the end of the war, the Ohio was still in Malta being used as a floating warehouse as she couldn’t be used again as a ship due to the damaged, she was towed out into the Mediterranean where she was then torpedoed by a British destroyer, and she still refused to sink. It took two more torpedoes for her to go down. A really amazing ship and a true legend The third biggest mistake, the Germans made in the Second World War was not taken out Malta. The other two where not pushing into Dunkirk earlier and letting the British escape and the over is invading the Soviet Union. really great video thankyou
To be fair, Germany had a choice in the first 2 mistakes. But not really any other option but to invade the Soviet Union. Since conquering Europe, their oil situation had only gotten worse. Even poaching/looting all the resources they could, the occupied territories still made their oil situation even more upside down. That and just all the other resources their industry needed and the view that it was an inevitable conflict anyways. That Stalin was just buying time. Which, of course Hitler would assume Stalin was doing, because that's what HE was doing with the non-aggression pact and division of Poland. Kind of like saying Japan shouldn't have attacked the U.S. They had no choice but to take the Dutch East Indies for their resources. And US held Philippines was RIGHT in the middle of their transport routes to ship those resources back to the home islands. Though, I do often wonder if the U.S. would have even declared war if Japan attacked the Dutch and British without attacking Pearl Harbor.
@jonny-b4954
Germany didn't really have a choice with Dunkirk. The Germany army was ridiculously over extended and couldn't sustain an attack - especially an attack into a tenatious enemy that had naval support and no where to run.
The Germans *tried* to destroy the British at Dunkirk, Goering promised the Luftwaffe could do it and so the job was left to them to let the army rest.
Maybe if Goering, or at Hitler, had a better understanding of the capabilities of the Luftwaffe they might have achieved more squeezing one last gasp from the army, but it's unlikely the British could have simply been swept up
@@kirotheavenger60 Yeah, I get that. But they didn't have to truly attack and annihilate the enemy. Just delay them. They could have likely pressed an attack, to an extent. But yeah, they were so absurdly over-extended at that point that in fact it's the only reason the entire French invasion worked. They took absurdly foolish risks. Especially Rommel. And it was Rommel's attacks at Siege of Lille that held like 7-8 German divisions from attacking Dunkirk. Though, I guess that was more the determined French defense for a few days than Rommel.
4th declaring war on the usa. Hitler wasn't obligated to do that. the axis treaty would come into effect if a country attacked Italy or japan so japan attacking usa didn't make it necessary for Germany to declare war.
@@jonny-b4954 [Irish accent] you might be right rabbit.... you might.....
The Malta campaign was always my favourite to study and analyse, especially pedestal and the ships in it so thank you for this video
Francis Alonzo Dales (December 3, 1923 - March 29, 2003) was a cadet midshipman in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who served on the freighter SS Santa Elisa, and subsequently the tanker SS Ohio, during Operation Pedestal, a convoy to the besieged island of Malta in the Second World War. For his actions defending the convoy, considered one of the most important British strategic victories of the war, he was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
USMMA was the only service academy to have its students see combat as students.
Could you elaborate on what he did? A DSM is nothing to be sniffed at..
Man, I've missed your videos this year. And let me tell you; you hit this video out of the park and you had my 100% attention during the full length of the video. Great job Man!
very good video i have heard of this convoy and THIS FAMOUS OIL TANKER.
also, after this video After Ohio reached Malta, the ship broke in two from the damage she had sustained. There were insufficient shipyard facilities to repair the tanker, so the two halves were used for storage, and later barracks facilities for Yugoslavian troops.[34]
On 19 September 1946 the forward half of Ohio was towed 10 miles (16 km) offshore and sunk by gunfire from the destroyer HMS Virago. On 3 October, the stern half was scuttled in deep water using explosive charges laid by the salvage vessel RFA Salventure.[35]
I'm an American Army officer and amateur WW2 historian. I have read and watched many, many books and documentaries about operation Pedestal. So often the Eurocentric documentarians and authors either leave out or diminish the fact that the Ohio was an American ship. Many even leave out her name just saying "a tanker carrying critical fuel" implying a purely British operation. Yet it wasn't and I appreciate your efforts to give credit where credit is due.
The Allies worked together to defeat the Axis powers. It was a team effort, not uniquely British and not uniquely American. Keep up the good work.
BTW, this operation (and many others) made it possible for my own grandfather, a B17G tailgunner who was shot down over Germany in 44' and crash-landed in Poland, to make his way around the Med by truck, train and boat unhindered by Axis air attacks to return to England. There he continued bombing Germany in a new B17G.
It is crazy how so much can depend on the bravery of so few. Never let anyone tell you that individual actions dont matter because they do.
Yeah very much an American ship. I decided to give it the British colouring in this vid to distinguish it from the two US ships that also had American crews during this op
Don't forget the Americans captured the enigma machine oh no that was hms bulldog but heyho we all know history is written by the Victor's! But big respect for bankrupting the UK with all the expensive help! I'm pretty sure the only nation that repaid America back in full was us!
It was a US built ship owned, crewed and operated by the British, the British purchased and operated many ships produced in the US, for example Kentucky which was sunk on a previous mission. I’ve not encountered any account of Pedestal which just said oil tanker.
Hollywood is the worst culprit for forgetting the collective contribution, and frankly we in the West put far too little emphasis on the Russian contribution, most likely as a result of what has happened since and is still happening now (ie. Communism, authoritarianism and invasions etc).
Everyone did cool stuff and the war would’ve had a vastly different outcome without one of the allies’ efforts.
@@robertpatrick3350 did I say it was US crewed? No oil tanker = no oil.
To your last I would say, read more then because its pretty common. Most headlines about the event dont mention any US involvement whatsoever either. But of course theres always someone like you who wants to argue. I mean what is your point even except to be contrarian?
I was in Malta a few years back, the story of this tanker presented in the museum was really interesting.
HOOONEEY! Historygraph has uploaded!
The absolute pinnacle of gallantry and selflessness in service, for all the sailors and airmen of that convoy, especially the crews of the merchant ships.
It amazes me so much to hear about the bravery displayed by the service people of the ships. True heroes
Thank you, sir. Well done, as always.
What a great story, and retold in such a dramatic yet factual way. Three things stick out. One was the spirit of the British sailors that kept the Ohio afloat, knowing that a well-placed bomb could detonate the cargo. Second was Fred Larsen volunteering to help man the Ohio with a fractured spine. The other is the end...can you imagine after all that the Ohio went through her in the end being sunk by British shore batteries?
The bravery that is required to be a sailor on an unarmed ship thats a key target for the enemy is insane !
The volunteers went even further, much respect
The Ohio wasn't completely unarmed. It had various anti-aircraft guns installed. However, that is not to say that the sailors in the pedestal convoy weren't brave.
Hobestly, man, this is just incredible quality. It's not wasted on us. Great job
Nice to see Pedestal revisited, though I'd love to hear more about Brisbane Star's adventure, as she seemed to be the real stand out character in the original video.
A day with a new historigraph video is always a good day
my great grandad was on the Kenya he said on this run their own anti aircraft guns ran so hot that the metal was warping through continued use.... and it was thanks to the damage it took and its following refit once it had limped back home that he met my great grandmother who were together for 70 years! i always love finding more little snipets of this story its truly amazing
The story of Operation Pedestal is a truly incredible one. I watched a documentary about it several years ago and it showed the sinking on HMS Eagle.
I cannot begin to imagine the feelings of the rest of the convoy when that carrier was sunk, so so early on in the voyage. One of the most potent defensive units available, gone!
And that was just a taste of things to come. All those on that fateful voyage were incredibly brave, especially the volunteers who helped crew Ohio. It's truly amazing what people can do when push comes to shove. An amazing story to read about.
I can highly recommend Max Hastings book (titled Operation Pedestal), I'd never heard of it before picking up the book in a shop, it's an incredible read and right up there with Flags of our Fathers and Band of Brothers for the bravery and fight those men put up
@@stevecoates8236 Thankyou very much for the recommendation. I'm looking for a good book, I think this may well fit the bill!
@@stevecoates8236 Thankyou for the recommendation. Definitely next on my reading list!
If I remember correctly the SS Ohio was a extremely fast ship for her era, setting speed records, and the American crew was disappointed on being replaced by a British crew feeling that they could sail her better than anyone else. Thankfully she made it to Malta none the less.
!5 knots. nothing too fast, not a fleet oiler
@@benwilson6145 5 knots after it was heavily damaged. The SS Ohio set many speed records before Pedestal it was much faster then most of the ships in the Pedestal convoy.
@@VFRSTREETFIGHTER The Ohio was a T2 SE A1 tanker built en-masse.. They made 15 knots, nothing special.
I have a copy of the Ship Movement card confirming this. The Ship Moment card is available online.
Where is the record of Ohio achieving super speed?
@@benwilson6145 While he is wrong about it setting speed records, that specific class of ship were legitimately the fastest tankers around in 1940 at a staggering 16 knots with 9,000~ shaft horsepower.
I guess, in a way, that is setting a record - fastest Oiler at the time.
I knew of Operation Pedestal before this video, but I never knew the deatils of it. I had no idea it was such a brutal, devestating and crazy story. Tahnk you for sharing. Really interesting!
The “Ohio” was an American built Texas Company (Texaco) T-2 tanker that was given over to the British by the US Government for this critical mission. A few of these T-2 Tankers were still operating 50 years later. Early in my professional career I worked on several.
The US Government weren't given much of a choice, the MoWT just requisitioned her, changed her port of registry to London and replaced the American crew.
@@goodshipkaraboudjan Pretty ironoc given that Texaco was run by an overt fascist and Hitler admirer.
Two pivotal events allowed D-Day to be a success: Stalingrad denying Nazi access to the Caucasus oilfields and Operational Pedestal denying supplies to Rommel, his eventual defeat, and denying access to the Middle Eastern oilfields, going on to be the staging post for the invasion of Italy. Pedestal and the SS Ohio were pivotal, absolutely pivotal to the outcome of WW2. It was a privilege to go to Malta and visit the War Museum, which tells the story of Pedestal. An amazing country and people.
A great effort about a topic that inspired me when I read about it many years ago. As usual you have given information I have not found elsewhere. Thank you. Keep up the incredible work. Much appreciated. So many heroes. So close to failure yet success. As I see it, indeed it would make a great movie. Would anyone believe it even though based on fact and incredible bravery by many? Perhaps Malta's survival might convince them and the sacrifices and heroism recorded.
Thank you for another awesome video. This is the your second video on the Malta convoys but still about Operation Pedestal ! I am really hoping you will cover the other convoys that followed or even preceded Pedestal.
To think that after all that effort from multiple vessels worth of crew, hours spent enduring near constant air assault and a healthy sprinkle of luck the shore batteries if they had been a very slight bit more accurate with their gunnery that the Ohio could have fallen in the end from friendly fire. A terrible fate for any crew member to suffer but to go through all of that to nearly be sunk by friendly batteries that close to the destination is terrifying.
Congrats on your 100th video!
My grandfather was also in north Africa in the polish army
A truly inspiring video.
I am a WWII history buff but I had never heard this story.
Thank you
A smaller tonnage does not mean less bravery, even oil tanker crews can be as heroic as the mightiest battleship crews, respect all crews who fought with their ship until their end
Speak for yourself. Between Piorun, Hatsuzuki, and Taffy 3, I’m convinced that they just stuck all their most ballsy and insane sailors on Destroyers and cargo ships.
14 150 GRT is not small. The Bravery is large.
I read Max Hastings book on the operation two years ago. All those sailors were bravest men out there.
There is an old black and white movie of the convoy. But I can't believe there isn't a modern one.
Also, the game Axis & Allies has Melbourne Star has a unit and card in the game
Awful book. Gets so much plain wrong. There’s a great book by Smith on Pedestal. Much better source.
@geordiedog1749 Could you provide a title of this book. Never heard of "Smith"
what's the name of his other leg?
Really late, but, I think he is referring to Pedestal: The Malta Convoy of August 1942 by Peter Charles Smith.
@ImportantHistory Thanks, I'll look it up
Operation Pedestal is probably my favorite video of yours! Great to see parts of it with fancy graphics!
Much respect to the people of Malta. They held strong for a long time.
Excellent presentation of a BRITISH operation (eyes a certain Ex-Colonial keyboard warrior in the comments below). Thank you Historigraph for taking the time to create and post this video for all of us to enjoy.
May 1942 Operation Bowery was an Anglo-American operation during the Second World War to deliver fighter aircraft to Malta, an operation known informally as a Club Run. Spitfires were needed to replace the remaining obsolete Hurricane fighters, to defend Malta from Axis air raids.
When discussing naval warfare the sinking of cargo ships is almost always discussed as a statistic of "x ship sunk y tons if cargo", and it's easy to forget all this ships had an extremly brave crew and they completed extremly critical missions.
What an amazing story! No shortage of courage there!
Roger Hill of Ledbury was a legend.
Thanks for this great video. What a amazing story. This ship should be made into a movie. Thanks for the animations. Can you do one about the Battle of Guadelcannel 1942.
I had the privilege of visiting the National War Museum at Fort St. Elmo in Malta. It was there where I had first learned of the intrepid ship Ohio through a beautifully rendered “holographic” display. The lives lost in the course of protecting the Ohio made all the difference in buying Malta and Allied troops the crucial time needed to hold off the Italians and Germans through the war. Amazing.
Hey it's been 2 years since we got video on historigraph extra. Please make one video for that channel also
It is nearly impossible for many people today to comprehend just how *desperate* conditions were during WWII. What an epic tale of heroism and determination.
Incredible Humanistic History
The Freedom Of Man Know’s No Bounds
Such A Great Story
How have I not Been Told of This
Beautiful Effort
Nice Presentation
Good Work Great Man
Thank You
The Comfort Of Man Know’s No Bounds
What an amazing story and very brave men, my Great Uncle died when the Ramb IV was sunk in May 1942, off the coast of Alexandria he is among the 155 wounded men and 10 crew that were lost
Loved the video
its always a good day when historiograph uploads
Interesting, I always learn something!
Thanks for all of the great research on making this video available for us.
Great to see pedestal get coverage on a history channel, I too read Max Hastings book (spotted your copy) and found it one of the most astonishing accounts of the war I've read, an under covered act of bravery that in my opinion deserves the same level of coverage as the Italy campaign, Market Garden or dare I say it even Overlord. I couldn't have begun to imagine what the sailors were feeling watching ship after ship go down but still keep pressing on. Heroes all of them!
Appreciate the content, always look forward to these videos
Great video
Pedestal was such a close call
I've been to Malta some time ago. I took a photo in a harbour where Ohio arrived. Glad to know its entire story!
Wild. Well done.
Despite being torpedoed, bombed, kamikaze'd, and being shot at, _Ohio didn't hear no goddamn bell_
The Ohio wasn't kamikazed.
@@SirJamesSomerville99 True, but a German aircraft did crash into her.
@@dovetonsturdee7033 Yeah that falls in the same category as being kamakazied but has "honour" in this case
Call it Accidental "Kamikaze" lol
@SirJamesSomerville99 was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Brilliant. Thanks.
Excellent video's and presentation. Thanks a lot.
What an amazing story, very well told
the Malta Campaign is probaly in my view one of the most important campaigns, firstly, it ensures the Allies keep the Med , N Africa, Gibralter and the Suez, therefore ensuring that India , Australia and so on don't fall , and ensures Italy falls
But the most important thing is that Malta, an Island of 500k people, 17 miles across, surrounded on all sides by the Axis, a 1000 miles to Alexandria , 1000 miles to Gibralter, could not be taken by the Axis. If the Axis could'nt take Malta, operation Sealion had no chance
Crete kind of saved Malta. Operation Herkules was never given much impetus following the massive losses the falljaeger took in Crete. Oberkommando just didn’t fancy it and thought they’d let the RA and Luftwaffe do the job instead.
Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Awesome vid mate! Thanks :)
So sad to see that the fait of the ship was to be sunk in gunnery practice. Such an amazing story ending with a whimper
Excellent story, thanks for telling it.
Very interestingly told, as always. Thank you.
Many years ago (mid 70's, I think), I read a full-length book about this one convoy. It was fascinating reading and went into a lot more detail than what is possible in a 14-minute video. i think it was simply named "Malta Convoy", but I may be wrong
The only thing I remember being different in this account, was that they quoted 4 aircraft carriers, not 3. I don;t know where the discrepancy was.
I just found it on Amazon ($9 hardcover or $6 paperback), by Peter Shankland and Anthony Hunter, 256 pages, published in 1961 by Collins.
There is a Series of convoys, all important and all interlinked.
PQ 17, Pedestal and PQ 18. All vital.
Never heard this story before, and I'm born and raised and still living in the state that gave this ship its name. We really ought to be celebrating it more around here.
Amazing story, thanks for sharing it
It seems almost impossible for Ohio to have made it but was so critical for it to make it and was a massive help on all fronts in the war
The Maltese see it as a miracle as the Ohio came in on 15th August, the feast day of Santa Marija.
Friend you just told a fun story in this video. Great job.
The Max Hastings book on this convoy operation (in the description credits) is a chilling account showing just how much of a close run thing it was and how anarchic it got after the convoy's command system broke down.
Bloody awful book! Don’t read it. Full of errors! Read C S Smiths book on it instead if you want a proper history book. I cannot stand Hastings. He’s an awful historian and his pedestal book proves it.
@@geordiedog1749 Such as?
It would've been a very cruel twist of fate at the end had one of the coastal batteries actually managed to score a hit on the ship's cargo and subsequently causing a large explosion that engulfed all four after surviving so much
There was very little actual danger from the shore batteries. The main problem came when escorts started dropping random depth charges to ward off subs. The vibrations stated to cause OH10s plating to come apart.
Pedestal should get a miniseries in of itself.
I have long thought that a miniseries following a destroyer crew from PQ17 to Pedestal would be epic
@@historigraphdew it
Brisbane Star could have a film all to herself. Her story is amazing but gets (understandably) overshadowed by OH10.
@@historigraphHMS Ledbury was in both PQ17 and Pedestal. As a native from the town from which it’s named, it would be incredible to have a series based around her.
Such valor!
Great video
Malta is tied to another awesome story, the story of Faith, Hope and Charity.
I love this account
fantastic story
It’s stories like this one that make me love history. Malta played such a vital role in the Med that had it been lost, the war might have followed. A big reason it wasn’t was a desperate effort by civilian ship workers to give death itself the middle finger
Here is the ironic thing about “free trials”. I wanted to do one for Ancestry. However, before I was to start the free trial, I had to show my credit card for when the trial period ended. I was like “Screw that! They ain’t getting my card just for a free trial!” So yeah, remember that hidden issue with free trials.
They suck
Amazing video as always!
I love your content mate. As an Aussie it would be great to see a video on the battle between the HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran. I have always wondered why it was that the Germans were allowed to essentially cloak military vessels as civilian ones.
Do some research, perfectly legitimate. The Kormarant crew were imprisoned in Australia until 1946 no action taken.
brilliant video dude! thank you for this
I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
The Mediterranean was a banger holy cow. You hear about the Pacific battles but rarely boats in this theatre!
Amazing Story
Fast tanker built in the Sun shipyard in Chester Pa.
Jeez - imagine getting through all of that, then getting shot at by Malta...
To me, the most amazing thing to note is how common was the uncommon courage back then. I shames me to say that such qualities are rare among those us born after the 80s, having grown up in the peaceful world that they have sacrificed and build for us. Respect to them, the greatest generation indeed.
Great stuff, it must take ages to research and out this stuff together, well done and thanks