Second Sirte 1942: The Desperate Battle to Relieve Malta

The Second Battle of Sirte was a key naval clash in the Mediterranean, and a vital moment in the struggle for Malta’s survival.

Malta was the key to the hard-fought naval campaign being waged in the Mediterranean, a link in the vital Axis supply lines between Italy and North Africa. Struggling under a sustained Axis bombing campaign, Malta depended on convoys of supplies to survive. Axis air formations dominated the skies, making any attempt to relieve the island extremely hazardous.

In December 1941, a convoy from the east led to an inconclusive clash with the Italians at the First Battle of Sirte. In late March 1942, the situation escalated. The decisive clash came on the afternoon of 22 March, when British destroyers launched a series of torpedo attacks against Italian ships. At dawn, Axis aircraft appeared and a series of intense air attacks followed. Although three of the convoy’s four ships reached Malta, they were sunk days later. Still, it was enough to buy Malta the time it needed to remain in the fight.

This highly illustrated title by renowned naval historian Angus Konstam demonstrates the importance of radar, intelligence and airpower, and above all determination and grit in the face of a superior enemy.

Angus Konstam is the author of well over 100 history books. He has written widely on naval history, from the age of sail through to modern conflicts. A former naval officer, Angus has worked as a museum curator in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a former Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.