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At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II
In this gripping, page-turning account, Sam Moses has told a story in the tradition of Sebastian Junger’s A Perfect Storm, Robert Kurson’s Shadow Divers, and Hampton Sides’s Ghost Soldiers. It’s a story about the heroism of two men in battle at sea during World War II, and one woman fleeing Nazi Norway with her child. It’s about how courage can change the course of history.
AT ALL How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Marines Turned the Tide of World War II is the astonishing untold account, with original historical reporting, of how two men faced unfathomable danger to help save the island of Malta, Churchill’s crux of the war.
In 1942, the tiny island of Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth. Hitler needed Malta as a stepping-stone to get to the oil in Iraq and Iran (Persia at the time). Blockaded by sea, Malta was running on empty, in food, fuel and ammunition. Axis U-boats and dive-bombers made supply convoys to Malta more like suicide missions. In this last-hope convoy, 50 warships escorted 13 freighters carrying aviation fuel, and a single critical tanker, the SS Ohio , with 107,000 barrels of oil from Texas. Winston Churchill had traveled to Washington and asked FDR for the tanker–his prime ministership was at stake over this mission to Malta.
Relentlessly dive-bombed and repeatedly torpedoed, the Ohio suffered huge hits and was abandoned. Two young American merchant mariners–pulled from the sea after their own ship went down in flames–boarded the ravaged tanker, repaired her guns and fought off German and Italian dive-bombers, as the sinking Ohio was towed at 4 knots toward Malta with a tiny crew of volunteers.
Sam Moses’ AT ALL COSTS is a triumphant story of human fearless, selfless acts by men determined to save a ship and win a war; profound communal courage from an island under brutal siege; and leaders who understood the cause of freedom.
Kirkus (starred review)
A historical footnote provides a riveting tale of true American grit during World War II.
In 1942, the island of Malta was the primary launching point in the Mediterranean for Allied
aircraft and submarine attacks against Axis supply convoys. At the height of the North African
campaign, Rommel’s tanks prepared to sweep into Egypt, Iran and Iraq. The only thing they lacked was
the fuel to get there, and the shortage was equally desperate on Malta. The Allies launched Operation
Pedestal, a last-ditch effort to re-supply the base by sending a convoy from Britain through the Gibraltar
Strait to the beleaguered island. The convoy, which included the American tanker Ohio and the U.S.
freighter Santa Elisa , was anything but a milk run. Vietnam vet Moses ( Fast Guys, Rich Guys and
Idiots , not reviewed) crafts a thrilling adventure on the high seas, though it takes a while to get started.
The book’s first third juxtaposes Malta’s plight against the stories of two American merchant seamen
on the Santa Elisa : Lonnie Dales and Fred Larsen, through whose eyes the battle will be viewed in bluecollar
detail. Once Operation Pedestal begins, the narrative is all action. The convoy comes under
repeated attack, lives are lost, the Santa Elisa is sunk. Dales and Larsen find themselves aboard the
wounded Ohio , full to the brim with Texas crude. If they can hold off Nazi attacks and keep their new
ship afloat long enough to reach Malta, the operation will be a success. Moses takes readers directly
into the heat of battle, demonstrating a strong command of historical detail.
Highly recommended for fans of naval adventure. ( Peter Riva/International Transactions, Inc.)
" At All Costs is an extraordinary work of research and an exciting read that pays tribute to a crucial enterprise taken against incredible odds. Sam Moses has brought the ghastliness of war and the beauty of heroism together, in jarring union." –Frank Deford
“This book tells a great story. But Sam Moses is not just sharing a gripping tale. He is sharing an important and oft neglected story about a battle that played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of WW II. You will meet people who will linger in memory for their bravery, foolishness, or wisdom.” –Ken Auletta, author of Backstory
“Thrillingly told and beautifully researched, At All Costs is not just the against-all-odds story of the saving of Malta, but also of how the fate of nations can turn on the personal bravery of two ordinary men.”
–Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers
“Sam Moses has skillfully blended the vivid recollections of many eyewitnesses with a wealth of original documentary research to produce an immensely readable and authoritative account of this crucial operation.” –Mark Whitmore, Director of Collections, Imperial War Museum, London, England
AT ALL How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Marines Turned the Tide of World War II is the astonishing untold account, with original historical reporting, of how two men faced unfathomable danger to help save the island of Malta, Churchill’s crux of the war.
In 1942, the tiny island of Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth. Hitler needed Malta as a stepping-stone to get to the oil in Iraq and Iran (Persia at the time). Blockaded by sea, Malta was running on empty, in food, fuel and ammunition. Axis U-boats and dive-bombers made supply convoys to Malta more like suicide missions. In this last-hope convoy, 50 warships escorted 13 freighters carrying aviation fuel, and a single critical tanker, the SS Ohio , with 107,000 barrels of oil from Texas. Winston Churchill had traveled to Washington and asked FDR for the tanker–his prime ministership was at stake over this mission to Malta.
Relentlessly dive-bombed and repeatedly torpedoed, the Ohio suffered huge hits and was abandoned. Two young American merchant mariners–pulled from the sea after their own ship went down in flames–boarded the ravaged tanker, repaired her guns and fought off German and Italian dive-bombers, as the sinking Ohio was towed at 4 knots toward Malta with a tiny crew of volunteers.
Sam Moses’ AT ALL COSTS is a triumphant story of human fearless, selfless acts by men determined to save a ship and win a war; profound communal courage from an island under brutal siege; and leaders who understood the cause of freedom.
Kirkus (starred review)
A historical footnote provides a riveting tale of true American grit during World War II.
In 1942, the island of Malta was the primary launching point in the Mediterranean for Allied
aircraft and submarine attacks against Axis supply convoys. At the height of the North African
campaign, Rommel’s tanks prepared to sweep into Egypt, Iran and Iraq. The only thing they lacked was
the fuel to get there, and the shortage was equally desperate on Malta. The Allies launched Operation
Pedestal, a last-ditch effort to re-supply the base by sending a convoy from Britain through the Gibraltar
Strait to the beleaguered island. The convoy, which included the American tanker Ohio and the U.S.
freighter Santa Elisa , was anything but a milk run. Vietnam vet Moses ( Fast Guys, Rich Guys and
Idiots , not reviewed) crafts a thrilling adventure on the high seas, though it takes a while to get started.
The book’s first third juxtaposes Malta’s plight against the stories of two American merchant seamen
on the Santa Elisa : Lonnie Dales and Fred Larsen, through whose eyes the battle will be viewed in bluecollar
detail. Once Operation Pedestal begins, the narrative is all action. The convoy comes under
repeated attack, lives are lost, the Santa Elisa is sunk. Dales and Larsen find themselves aboard the
wounded Ohio , full to the brim with Texas crude. If they can hold off Nazi attacks and keep their new
ship afloat long enough to reach Malta, the operation will be a success. Moses takes readers directly
into the heat of battle, demonstrating a strong command of historical detail.
Highly recommended for fans of naval adventure. ( Peter Riva/International Transactions, Inc.)
" At All Costs is an extraordinary work of research and an exciting read that pays tribute to a crucial enterprise taken against incredible odds. Sam Moses has brought the ghastliness of war and the beauty of heroism together, in jarring union." –Frank Deford
“This book tells a great story. But Sam Moses is not just sharing a gripping tale. He is sharing an important and oft neglected story about a battle that played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of WW II. You will meet people who will linger in memory for their bravery, foolishness, or wisdom.” –Ken Auletta, author of Backstory
“Thrillingly told and beautifully researched, At All Costs is not just the against-all-odds story of the saving of Malta, but also of how the fate of nations can turn on the personal bravery of two ordinary men.”
–Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers
“Sam Moses has skillfully blended the vivid recollections of many eyewitnesses with a wealth of original documentary research to produce an immensely readable and authoritative account of this crucial operation.” –Mark Whitmore, Director of Collections, Imperial War Museum, London, England
335 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
24 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 17, 2017
A very interesting read about the importance of Operation Pedestal and the operation itself. The story covers every aspect of the operation. The author tries to convince the reader that had the operation failed then Hitler would have won the war, but personally, I doubt that. Still a good book though.
February 27, 2015
Malta is an archipelago of seven small islands between Sicily, the boot of Italy, and Africa. As such it held a strategic place during WW II, and despite heavy pressure from the Italians and Germans, withstood nearly incessant bombing. But to do so required food and fuel necessitating many convoys which had to run the gauntlet of German bombers based in Italy.
Getting the required tankers and other freighters often involved extensive and complicated negotiations between Roosevelt and Churchill. Their efforts were often hindered by Admiral King, who insisted on certain American prerogatives regarding crewing the loaned ships, the profit-oriented motives of people like the CEO of Texaco who sold oil to anyone, including surreptitiously to the Germans, and the idiocy of the American ambassador to Egypt whose lackadaisical efforts at secrecy made his information about British operations almost immediately available to the Germans.
Conditions on Malta were frightful, often bordering on starvation. AvGas was in terribly short supply for the fighters which were often decimated by German bombs even before they could get off the ground. Churchill, rightly, was adamant the islands be held at all costs so the convoys continued escorted by fleets of naval vessels, but at frightful cost.
A massive operation, called “Pedestal”, comprised of more than 50 ships including several aircraft carriers and battleships, was sent in an attempt to relieve the island and deliver airplanes, fuel and food. The AvGas was shipped in five gallon containers that had cork seals that leaked making the holds floating bombs. The idea was to make loading the gas into the planes much faster. Everything was a bit jury-rigged. Spitfires on the ancient carrier “Furious” could just barely make it off the deck, so to save weight their guns were load with cigarettes, intended also as a morale booster for the islanders should the planes make it through. Multiple security leaks meant the Germans and Italians knew all about the convoy.
The Italians had several opportunities to finish off the convoy, an event that might have altered the course of the war. The Germans had refused to deliver as much oil as they had promised so the Italian Navy was always trying to conserve what they had. They were also exceedingly cautious and Mussolini overruled one of his admirals who wanted to send their cruisers after the British and American ships. They fell for a Maltese trap, however, that broadcast, in the open, that British Liberator bombers were on the way and Mussolini ordered them back home missing an opportunity to perhaps change the course of the war.
A couple of weird Italian contraptions bear mention. They had invented a bizarre form of mine. Dubbed the “Moto-Bombay” (sp? - audiobook) it was dropped by parachute. When it hit the water, a motor would engage sending the mine in successively large circles for a diameter of about 15 kilometers. They were easily avoided since the parachutes were quite visible from afar. Another gizmo was to take a Flying Buffalo aircraft, load it to the wingtips with fuel and bombs and then after take-off, the pilot would jump out into the sea and the plane would be guided by remote control, hopefully into an aircraft carrier. Didn’t work, the prototype exploding against an North African mountain.
The author has interviewed numerous survivors of the bombing raids and some of their stories are truly heart-rending. Even after sixty years, their eyes fill with tears as they recall comrades who could not be saved or the horrible trauma of watching people, badly burned, struggle in the water after being torpedoed. Excellently read audiobook by Michael Pritchard, one of my favorites.
Getting the required tankers and other freighters often involved extensive and complicated negotiations between Roosevelt and Churchill. Their efforts were often hindered by Admiral King, who insisted on certain American prerogatives regarding crewing the loaned ships, the profit-oriented motives of people like the CEO of Texaco who sold oil to anyone, including surreptitiously to the Germans, and the idiocy of the American ambassador to Egypt whose lackadaisical efforts at secrecy made his information about British operations almost immediately available to the Germans.
Conditions on Malta were frightful, often bordering on starvation. AvGas was in terribly short supply for the fighters which were often decimated by German bombs even before they could get off the ground. Churchill, rightly, was adamant the islands be held at all costs so the convoys continued escorted by fleets of naval vessels, but at frightful cost.
A massive operation, called “Pedestal”, comprised of more than 50 ships including several aircraft carriers and battleships, was sent in an attempt to relieve the island and deliver airplanes, fuel and food. The AvGas was shipped in five gallon containers that had cork seals that leaked making the holds floating bombs. The idea was to make loading the gas into the planes much faster. Everything was a bit jury-rigged. Spitfires on the ancient carrier “Furious” could just barely make it off the deck, so to save weight their guns were load with cigarettes, intended also as a morale booster for the islanders should the planes make it through. Multiple security leaks meant the Germans and Italians knew all about the convoy.
The Italians had several opportunities to finish off the convoy, an event that might have altered the course of the war. The Germans had refused to deliver as much oil as they had promised so the Italian Navy was always trying to conserve what they had. They were also exceedingly cautious and Mussolini overruled one of his admirals who wanted to send their cruisers after the British and American ships. They fell for a Maltese trap, however, that broadcast, in the open, that British Liberator bombers were on the way and Mussolini ordered them back home missing an opportunity to perhaps change the course of the war.
A couple of weird Italian contraptions bear mention. They had invented a bizarre form of mine. Dubbed the “Moto-Bombay” (sp? - audiobook) it was dropped by parachute. When it hit the water, a motor would engage sending the mine in successively large circles for a diameter of about 15 kilometers. They were easily avoided since the parachutes were quite visible from afar. Another gizmo was to take a Flying Buffalo aircraft, load it to the wingtips with fuel and bombs and then after take-off, the pilot would jump out into the sea and the plane would be guided by remote control, hopefully into an aircraft carrier. Didn’t work, the prototype exploding against an North African mountain.
The author has interviewed numerous survivors of the bombing raids and some of their stories are truly heart-rending. Even after sixty years, their eyes fill with tears as they recall comrades who could not be saved or the horrible trauma of watching people, badly burned, struggle in the water after being torpedoed. Excellently read audiobook by Michael Pritchard, one of my favorites.
November 21, 2017
This book's sub-head may not be hyperbole. There are a number of battles in WWII that are generally said to have been decisive: [air] Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Battle of Midway, and later [German] operation Citadel, D-day and the battle for Normandy. Here is one that ranks with these other battles for importance, if not for fame.
Malta was running out of supplies. Bombers and submarines from Malta were sinking a large percentage of Axis Mediterranean shipping, starving Rommel's Afrika Korps of supplies. Malta would cease to be an effective base without fuel, ammunition, food, and spare parts. If Malta stopped interdicting Rommel's supplies, Rommel would fight through to Egypt, overrun the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, and link up with [Wermacht] Army Group South in the Caucasus. This could easily have knocked Russia out of the war and made the Nazi army invincible.
To keep Malta viable, a convoy of 14 merchant ships and two dozen warships sailed from Gibraltar. What followed was a running battle that sank most of the supply ships and several of the warships. The few ships that got through, especially the tanker 'Ohio', saved Malta, which stepped up its attacks on Axis shipping.
The author does a wonderful job of capturing the noise, confusion, and terror of battle. This was a modern sea battle: the large surface ships, bristling with guns, are repeatedly attacked by more numerous, inexpensive, fragile vessels: planes, submarines, and e-boats.
This is a rousing story of heroism on both sides and a battle that could have gone either way. The participants knew Malta was at stake; what they did not know was that Malta may have held the key to winning the broader war.
Note: planes and submarines based in Malta were particularly effective against Axis shipping because most of it originated in Italy, right next door. Also, Ultra, the top-secret breaking of the Enigma-generated Axis codes, provided near-real-time reports of Axis sailing schedules, cargos, courses, and defenses.
Malta was running out of supplies. Bombers and submarines from Malta were sinking a large percentage of Axis Mediterranean shipping, starving Rommel's Afrika Korps of supplies. Malta would cease to be an effective base without fuel, ammunition, food, and spare parts. If Malta stopped interdicting Rommel's supplies, Rommel would fight through to Egypt, overrun the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, and link up with [Wermacht] Army Group South in the Caucasus. This could easily have knocked Russia out of the war and made the Nazi army invincible.
To keep Malta viable, a convoy of 14 merchant ships and two dozen warships sailed from Gibraltar. What followed was a running battle that sank most of the supply ships and several of the warships. The few ships that got through, especially the tanker 'Ohio', saved Malta, which stepped up its attacks on Axis shipping.
The author does a wonderful job of capturing the noise, confusion, and terror of battle. This was a modern sea battle: the large surface ships, bristling with guns, are repeatedly attacked by more numerous, inexpensive, fragile vessels: planes, submarines, and e-boats.
This is a rousing story of heroism on both sides and a battle that could have gone either way. The participants knew Malta was at stake; what they did not know was that Malta may have held the key to winning the broader war.
Note: planes and submarines based in Malta were particularly effective against Axis shipping because most of it originated in Italy, right next door. Also, Ultra, the top-secret breaking of the Enigma-generated Axis codes, provided near-real-time reports of Axis sailing schedules, cargos, courses, and defenses.
August 9, 2020
Operation Pedestal in August 1942 to resupply Malta- the convoy of 13 freighters and one oil tanker would be escorted by 2 Royal Navy battleships, 4 aircraft carriers, 7 cruisers, and 25 destroyers, along with support ships such as oilers, corvettes, and minesweepers.
“Malta might be lost to the Axis if Pedestal failed, and if Malta were lost, the Persian Gulf oil would be within Hitler’s reach.”
Movie about the operation was “The Malta Story” with Alec Guinness
“The merchant’s navy’s not like the Royal Navy, where you have to be told what to do.”
The SS Ohio tanker arrived finally in Malta on August 15, the Feast of Santa Maria, the Feast of Saint Mary, the celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven
Churchill- “Thus in the end five gallant merchant ships out of fourteen got through with their precious cargoes. The loss of three hundred and fifty officers and men and of so many of the finest ships in the Merchant Navy and in the escorting fleet of the Royal Navy was grievous. The reward justified the price extracted. Revictualled and replenished with ammunition and vital stores, the strength of Malta revived. British submarines returned to the island, and, with the striking forces of the Royal Air Force, regained their dominating position in the Central Mediterranean.” Pg. 288
Said the New York Times: “ Malta is the war’s key fortress. In convoying supplies to Malta, the risk was deliberately taken-a proof not only of audacity, but of the desperate importance of holding this speck of an island. That Malta still stands, isolated and interminably bombarded as it is, is one of the miracles of the war.” Pg. 288
“Malta might be lost to the Axis if Pedestal failed, and if Malta were lost, the Persian Gulf oil would be within Hitler’s reach.”
Movie about the operation was “The Malta Story” with Alec Guinness
“The merchant’s navy’s not like the Royal Navy, where you have to be told what to do.”
The SS Ohio tanker arrived finally in Malta on August 15, the Feast of Santa Maria, the Feast of Saint Mary, the celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven
Churchill- “Thus in the end five gallant merchant ships out of fourteen got through with their precious cargoes. The loss of three hundred and fifty officers and men and of so many of the finest ships in the Merchant Navy and in the escorting fleet of the Royal Navy was grievous. The reward justified the price extracted. Revictualled and replenished with ammunition and vital stores, the strength of Malta revived. British submarines returned to the island, and, with the striking forces of the Royal Air Force, regained their dominating position in the Central Mediterranean.” Pg. 288
Said the New York Times: “ Malta is the war’s key fortress. In convoying supplies to Malta, the risk was deliberately taken-a proof not only of audacity, but of the desperate importance of holding this speck of an island. That Malta still stands, isolated and interminably bombarded as it is, is one of the miracles of the war.” Pg. 288
June 8, 2019
Moses made his reputation as a sports writer, and that means he’s capable of writing rousing sentences even if adjectives sometimes run away with him—like the ship with a “fantastic top speed” (91) and a sun “sinking into the sea like a flaming red beach ball” (124). Citations are not as identifiable as a historian might wish, though Moses has clearly done considerable research in both primary and secondary sources, even walking through Valetta, Malta, with one of his protagonists.
I’ll have to leave the accuracy of naval details to buffs, but I found the story as Moses presents it hard to understand as a whole. The repeated attacks of Axis planes and ships blend into one another, sometimes with authorial asides about the contemporary spryness of his nonagenarian interviewees. Strangely, it’s the second half of the book—when the shooting starts—that could have been better organized and (to be frank) trimmed for readers less knowledgeable about World War II naval warfare than the author.
As for two merchant mariners turning the tide of World War II, I suppose that’s excusable hype for a book about an important action that few general readers have heard of. Still, a lot of brave men fought and died in this week-long engagement without the fate of the Allies ever hanging on the resupply of Malta.
I’ll have to leave the accuracy of naval details to buffs, but I found the story as Moses presents it hard to understand as a whole. The repeated attacks of Axis planes and ships blend into one another, sometimes with authorial asides about the contemporary spryness of his nonagenarian interviewees. Strangely, it’s the second half of the book—when the shooting starts—that could have been better organized and (to be frank) trimmed for readers less knowledgeable about World War II naval warfare than the author.
As for two merchant mariners turning the tide of World War II, I suppose that’s excusable hype for a book about an important action that few general readers have heard of. Still, a lot of brave men fought and died in this week-long engagement without the fate of the Allies ever hanging on the resupply of Malta.
March 2, 2024
wWII history is fascinating. The courage and resourcefulness of these two men deserves to see the light. Too often the Merchant Marine were not given their due in our understanding of the war. I know I never read about them in my history classes when I attended primary and high school. A foot note in college. So I was pleased to learn of this book. That said, I found this story a hard row. The type was small, curtailing time spent reading into pages instead of chapters. There was significant detail about the ships that became mind numbing for me. I am more interested in the personal side of these people. What kept them going? What made them not give up or give in? The maps were helpful and the photos were so good at helping me understand what they endured. The photo of the Ohio in the Malta harbor underscored the extent of the damage to the ship. She looks ready to slip away under the wave she is so low in the water. I felt teary as I read about her final days and eventual scuttling.
October 23, 2020
A little more technical detail than I was able to appreciate. Way too much information about the weight, length and overall size of different types of guns. More information than I needed on the size of various ships and the speed and capabilities of different aircraft. Still, I was unfamiliar with the battle to save Malta during WWII and the importance of Malta in the war. In spite of all the detail, Moses still manages to make the underlying story interesting, though skimming was necessary. If, on the other hand, you are a naval history buff with an interest in WWII you may well find the entirety of this book fascinating.
May 12, 2021
Thrilling account of one of the lesser known operations in the war, but one of the most important strategically: the relief of Malta. The author was able to interview many participants and the story is a real page turner. Even knowing ahead of time that the siege was lifted and Malta preserved did not diminish the effect of the story.
August 31, 2021
A very clearly-written and compelling story, with all sorts of interesting branches, about a critical strategic success by the English during World War II. Sam Moses shares dozens of character studies, strategic analyses, and historical vignettes as he tells this great adventure. He really brings home the ramshackle nature of war, including decision-making, execution, and technology.
October 20, 2023
How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II - I am not certain that I would exactly say that two Americans single-handedly changed the course of WWII. After all, the supply ship had to be towed to Malta by the British.... Resupplying the island was important, but perhaps not as important as the impression created by this book. Kristi & Abby Tabby
January 14, 2025
Set at a time prior to the invasion of Africa. The saving of Malta was deemed by Churchill to be worthy-of an all hands on deck effort.
Wonderful story of heroism planning, and ineptitude as comes with all war. A wonderful read about a period of time that I had not any knowledge of. I highly recommend this book to anyone with interest of the World War II.
Wonderful story of heroism planning, and ineptitude as comes with all war. A wonderful read about a period of time that I had not any knowledge of. I highly recommend this book to anyone with interest of the World War II.
March 7, 2019
Every time I feel like I know something about WWII and I read a new book an know that I know nothing. I knew nothing about Operation Pedestal and Malta. This was a well written book about the trials of the Merchant Marines during WWII.
April 13, 2019
Phenomenal history I never knew anything about -- and something so critical to the Allies winning WW II. Will have to travel to Malta to see why this tiny island was so important -- and the sacrifice it took to keep its people free -- at all costs!
April 9, 2023
Way more detail than I expected or really wanted, but I think it would appeal to a lot of people. Interesting to think of all that hinged on the convoy being a success, and how lucky we are that at least some ships made it through. Many sacrificed their lives in order for it to happen.
February 24, 2019
Had a slow start but picked up tremendously. Great companion for "Struggle for the Middle Sea" by Vincent P. O'Hara
March 6, 2021
Excellent true account. Must read for war fans.
March 25, 2022
Good account of Operation Pedestal from the convoy point of view.
May 22, 2024
Good read on the importance of Malta during WW2 and the effort to prevent it falling to the Axis.
October 10, 2024
Good information!
August 18, 2011
The detailed story of a critical naval convoy to the island Malta. The story was interesting, and was an aspect of WWII that was completely unfamiliar to me. The author has obviously done his research, as he wove many different threads into this complex story, including detailed accounts from many merchant shipmen and officers, navy officers, air force pilots, etc, and even Winston Churchill himself. The account also includes details from the axis powers and what the opposing captains and leaders thought and recorded about the events. I gained a lot of new understanding about merchant marine and Royal navy ops during the war. It was interesting to see how the different sides were interpreting the actions in real time.
This is probably the first book about WWII era naval action that I've read, so I was unfamiliar with many of the aircraft and ships involved in the action. At times the narrative seemed a bit bogged down in the details of the various craft involved. That's probably desirable for war history buffs, but to me it seemed a bit overwhelming.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and learned a lot of interesting stuff.
This is probably the first book about WWII era naval action that I've read, so I was unfamiliar with many of the aircraft and ships involved in the action. At times the narrative seemed a bit bogged down in the details of the various craft involved. That's probably desirable for war history buffs, but to me it seemed a bit overwhelming.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and learned a lot of interesting stuff.
September 11, 2012
A good book (not a great book) about operation PEDESTAL and the convoy which got through. Malta was the lynchpin of the Mediterranean theater of operations, and critical to the war in North Africa and later the invasion of Italy. And this book does a good enough job of telling the story of the heroic Maltese, Churchill's insistence of maintaining Malta as a critical base to attack the "Crocodile's Belly" of Axis power, and the heroic efforts of the convoy which rescued Malta.
Unlike some, I did not find the prose/narration to be "gripping", but more matter of fact. Adn while I understand the author's attempt to tell the heroic story of Operation PEDESTAL via the human interest aspects of a two American merchant mariners, I felt he did so at the expense of the large story.
Nonetheless, I think that few people nowadays are familiar with the very bleak and dim period of the early war years--when victory over the Axis was very much a questionable possibility. And the fact that a major turning point in that war hinged on the success or failure of a sinking ship towed and loaded with fuel and supplies for a small besieged island makes for an interesting, if uninspiring read.
Unlike some, I did not find the prose/narration to be "gripping", but more matter of fact. Adn while I understand the author's attempt to tell the heroic story of Operation PEDESTAL via the human interest aspects of a two American merchant mariners, I felt he did so at the expense of the large story.
Nonetheless, I think that few people nowadays are familiar with the very bleak and dim period of the early war years--when victory over the Axis was very much a questionable possibility. And the fact that a major turning point in that war hinged on the success or failure of a sinking ship towed and loaded with fuel and supplies for a small besieged island makes for an interesting, if uninspiring read.
December 3, 2013
I suspect it’s not the best book about Operation Pedestal (the Wikipedia account is quite detailed). The author, Sam Moses, tries to personalize it by focusing on a few of hundreds of participants, particularly a Norwegian-American engineer named Fred Larsen and an American merchant cadet named Lonnie Dale. Larsen’s story is compelling — his young wife and son in Nazi-occupied Norway, making their way to Brooklyn unbeknownst to Larsen — but the book, as dramatic as it is, is no Perfect Storm, despite the publisher’s claims.
The basic story: Malta is starving. Churchill is convinced it’s the key to not losing, perhaps winning, the way in the Mediterranean and North Africa, where Brit forces have just been defeated at Tobruk. The key to Malta’s survival is enough supplies fuel and food to keep the depleted force of fighters and bombers in the air. So in August 1942, the Brits launch a convoy of 50 ships, Operation Pedestal. The book is an account of the horrific attacks on the convoy by Italian and German planes, Uboats and warships. Even though 400 lives were lost and only five of 14 merchant ships got through, it was considered an Allied victory.
The basic story: Malta is starving. Churchill is convinced it’s the key to not losing, perhaps winning, the way in the Mediterranean and North Africa, where Brit forces have just been defeated at Tobruk. The key to Malta’s survival is enough supplies fuel and food to keep the depleted force of fighters and bombers in the air. So in August 1942, the Brits launch a convoy of 50 ships, Operation Pedestal. The book is an account of the horrific attacks on the convoy by Italian and German planes, Uboats and warships. Even though 400 lives were lost and only five of 14 merchant ships got through, it was considered an Allied victory.
December 10, 2009
I learned that another book about Malta can be a total disappointment.I have read too many five star books about Malta, and therefore must accept this as being nothing more than another example of highlighting the heroism of the Americans, which was certainly there, while putting the remarkable behavior of the British captains which towed the Ohio in as being secondary even though they were so much more heroic. And why were the other sailors who went aboard the Ohio cast as secondary players, when they were there fighting along the two Americans? Maybe because there were only two Americans, and many British, Austrailian, and Canadian sailors? Sometimes I get very tired of the Hollywood approach Americans take to all conflicts. Sometimes, we put ourselves in a situation, The Great Escape, is a prime example, where we were not even there. I had so looked forward to this book, since I am a Maltaphilia, but was counting the pages until I could be done and put it into the Book Bus, which will take it to the nearest charity store.
March 4, 2009
A very interesting book that my wife picked up for me at the library. The author recounts the voyage of the convoy that made up Operation PEDESTAL--supplies to refit the island nation of Malta--so the Allies had a launching pad into North Africa and the Middle East. If the Allies failed to reach their destination, then the Axis, for sure, would have had their claws dug in much deeper and would have the ability to prolong the war, or even win it.
This was in CD format, and the only issue I had with the story was the narration. The gentleman who was guiding me through the maneuvers, torpedoes, and Stukas didn't exactly have a voice for narration, and the audio quality was lacking (e.g. differing volume levels between tracks).
This was in CD format, and the only issue I had with the story was the narration. The gentleman who was guiding me through the maneuvers, torpedoes, and Stukas didn't exactly have a voice for narration, and the audio quality was lacking (e.g. differing volume levels between tracks).
August 11, 2013
I confess to having a soft spot for books with a nautical theme, and have read a number involving shipwrecks, naval battles, or enduring terrifying storms. So I was curious about "At All Costs" when I picked it up, to see if it would stand out from the others. In many ways, it didn't. But the one way it did standout was in telling the story of the importance of Malta during the initial stages of WW II. Sam Moses blended the individual stories of a few key crew members with the political decision making of Churchill and the historical significance of the island of Malta to weave a story which kept me interested and engaged.
March 7, 2009
I feel that the attempt by the author to wrap the narrative around the experience of two American sailors fell flat. The scope of the circumstances and events did not scale well when viewed through the tribulations of a pair of Yanks in a primarily British show. The author also tried to dramatize the events with his diction, and in my mind the volume suffered as a result. Still, books about the Malta convoys are hard to come by, and the course of Operation Pedestal is factually reported, which made the overall experience positive.
June 25, 2009
This is one of those stories where it's likely that history turned on a single event - the tanker Ohio bringing fuel to Malta in 1942. It's amazing to read the sort of conditions that these sailors - not all of whom were military - operated under during WWII - and the environmental disaster that the Mediterranean must have been by war's end. However, I do think that the title is a little misleading. I expected that the two merchant mariners would be singlehandedly responsible for getting the ship through, and that's not the case. Still a worthwhile read.
May 25, 2011
I thought this one was pretty dull. I didn't really "get" the attempt by the author to focus on a particular sailor and his family as a way to tell the story. It just didn't make the story connect for me. As a war history it was OK, in that it taught me stuff that I didn't know, but it didn't even hold my attention all that well and was a lot of blurry details about various parts of the battles. I've read quite a few war historical books, and this one is down pretty far on my list in terms of enjoyment and quality.
April 19, 2009
There is a LOT about World War II that I don't know. Like all of the battles around the Mediterranean: Egypt and North Africa : and the importance of keeping the middle eastern OIL away from the Nazis. This is the story of Churchill trying to restock the fuel for Allied bombers flying out of Malta by sending a massive convoy of supply ships. And the two men who kept on pushing their totally wrecked oil tanker at all costs.
November 18, 2011
Finally, after several months, and several checkouts from the library, I finished this book! The story is very heroic and the argument can be made that this turned the tide of WWII toward the favor of the allies. The only problem I had with the book is the details regarding the ships, cruisers, destroyers, fighter jets, etc. I am certainly not an expert at military hardware.
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