Operation Pedestal: Vessels
FORCE F Operation Pedestal force as a whole, including
Force Z Force F, less Force Z
- HMS Nelson, battleship, flagship Vice Admiral Sir E N Syfret, Senior Officer; Captain H B Jacomb
- HMS Rodney, battleship, Captain J W Rivett-Carnac
- HMS Eagle, aircraft carrier, Captain L D Mackintosh
- HMS Indomitable, aircraft carrier, Rear Admiral D W Boyde; Captain T H Troubridge
- HMS Victorious, aircraft carrier, Rear Admiral Sir A L St A Lyster; Captain H C Bovell
- HMS Furious, aircraft carrier (for Operation ‘Bellows’ – delivery of Spitfires to Malta), Captain T O Bulteel
- HMS Charybdis, cruiser, Captain G A W Voeckler
- HMS Phoebe, cruiser, Captain C P Frend
- HMS Sirius, cruiser, Captain P W B Brooking
- HMS Antelope, destroyer, Lt Commander E N Sinclair
- HMS Eskimo, destroyer, Commander E G Le Geyt
- HMS Ithuriel, destroyer, Lt Commander D H Maitland-Makfill-Crichton
- HMS Laforey, destroyer, Ship of Captain (D) 19TH Destroyer Flotilla, Captain R M J Hutton
- HMS Lightning, destroyer, Commander H G Walters
- Read a letter written from seaman on board HMS Lightning to his fiancee, during Operation Pedestal
- HMS Lookout, destroyer, Lt Commander C P F Brown
- HMS Quentin, destroyer, Lt Commander A H P Noble
- HMS Tartar, destroyer, Commander St J R J Tyrwhitt
- HMS Vansittart, destroyer, Lt Commander T Johnston
- HMS Westcott, destroyer, Commander I H Bockett-Pugh
- HMS Wilton, destroyer, Lt A P Northey
- HMS Wishart, destroyer, Commander H G Scott
- HMS Wrestler, destroyer, Lt R W B Lacon
- HMS Zetland, destroyer, Lt J V Wilkenson
Force X Naval forces escorting convoy to Malta
- HMS Nigeria, cruiser, flagship Rear-Admiral Commanding, 10th Cruiser Squadron, Rear Admiral H M Burrough
- HMS Cairo, cruiser, Acting Captain C C Hardy
- HMS Kenya, cruiser, Captain A S Russell
- HMS Manchester, cruiser, Captain H Drew
- HMS Ashanti, destroyer, Captain (D) 6TH Destroyer Flotilla, Commander R G Onslow
- HMS Bicester, destroyer, Lt Commander S W F Bennets
- HMS Bramham, destroyer, Lt E F Baines
- HMS Derwent, destroyer, Commander R H Wright
- HMS Foresight, destroyer, Lt Commander R A Fell
- HMS Fury, destroyer, Lt Commander C H Campbell
- HMS Icarus, destroyer, Lt Commander C D Maud
- HMS Intrepid, destroyer, Commander E A de W Kitcat
- HMS Ledbury, destroyer, Lt Commander R P Hill
- HMS Pathfinder, destroyer, Commander E A Gibbs
- HMS Penn, destroyer, Lt Commander J H Swain
Convoy WS21S supply ships
- Almeria Lykes, merchant ship, 7773 tons (USA) Captain W Henderson
- Brisbane Star, merchant ship, 12791 tons (GB) Captain F N Riley
- Clan Ferguson, merchant ship, 7347 tons (GB) Captain A N Cossar
- Deucalion, merchant ship, 7516 tons (GB) Captain R Brown
- Dorset, merchant ship, 10624 tons (GB) Captain J C Tuckett
- Empire Hope, merchant ship, 12688 tons (GB) Captain G Williams
- Glenorchy, merchant ship, 8982 tons (GB) Captain G Leslie
- Melbourne Star, merchant ship, 12806 tons (GB) Captain D R MacFarlane
- Port Chalmers, merchant ship, 8535 tons (GB) Captain H G Pinkney
- Rochester Castle, merchant, ship, 7795 tons (GB) Captain R Wren
- Santa Elisa, merchant ship, 8379 tons (USA) Captain T Thompson
- Waimarama, merchant ship, 12843 tons (GB) Captain R S Pearce
- Wairangi, merchant ship, 12400 tons (GB) Captain H R Gordon
- Ohio, oil tanker, 9514 tons (USA) Captain D Mason
Additional escort for convoy WS21S (UK to Straits of Gibraltar)
- HMS Amazon, destroyer, Lt Commander Lord Teynham
- HMS Keppel, destroyer, Commander J E Broome
- HMS Malcolm, destroyer, Commander A B Russell
- HMS Venomous, destroyer, Commander H W Falcon-Steward
- HMS Wolverine, destroyer, Lt Commander Gretton
Force Y convoy and escort Malta-Gibraltar
- Orari, merchant ship, Captain N Rice
- Troilus, merchant ship, Captain W G Harrison
- HMS Badsworth, destroyer, Lt G T S Gray
- HMS Matchless, destroyer, Lt Commander J Mowlam
Force R refuelling vessels and escort
- RFA Brown Ranger, fleet oil tanker, Master D B C Ralph
- RFA Dingledale, fleet oil tanker, Master R T Duthie
- HMS Coltsfoot, corvette, Temp Lt The Hon W K Rous
- HMS Geranium, corvette, Temp Lt Commander A Foxall
- HMS Jonquil, corvette, Lt Commander R E H Partington
- HMS Spirea, corvette, Lt Commander R S Miller
- HMS Jaunty, tug, Lt Commander H Osburn
- HMS Salvonia, tug, Temp Lt G M M Robinson
Malta: War Diary 
Geoff Hancock
December 10, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Please remember
Ronald Stanley Thomas Price . BEM
served on HMS Badsworth destroyer
part of Operation Pedestal Force Y convoy and escort Malta-Gibralter
Ronald Stanley Thomas Price
left us a tribute for his ship HMS Badsworth destroyer
I joined HMS Badsworth on the 9th August 1941 in Liverpool on her first commission and left her
on return to UK from Malta 0n 24th September 1942 when she “paid-off” as she was severely damaged and needed extensive dry-dock repairs.
She lost fourteen killed in this convoy, even so she was considered a ‘lucky ship’ as she had spent
over twelve months in the North Atlantic including a Russian Convoy and one Commando Raid
without loss of life, HMS Badsworth subsequently returned to the Mediterranean and the following
year was again mined. However she was successfully salvaged and survived the war.
RST Price. BEM
b.25 Dec 1922 d. 25 Nov 2013
Carmel Vella Sliema
March 10, 2014 at 11:41 am
VERY INRESTING THANKS
Charles Cardona
March 15, 2015 at 6:09 am
Thanks for helping Malta and the Maltese
Clive Watkins
March 31, 2015 at 2:12 pm
My father, Fred J Watkins, was an RNR officer on HMS Sirius from her commissioning till early 1945, including during Operation Pedestal.
Brian James Crabb
December 8, 2023 at 4:36 pm
Dear Clive I wrote a book entitled ‘Operation Pedestal. The story of convoy WS21S in August 1942. It was published in 2015. I also have HMS Sirius’ Letter of Proceedings which can be supplied free of charge Google: http://www.briancrabbmaritimebooks.co.uk and click on Operation Pedestal for more information. Very Best Wishes Brian James Crabb
john hewing
July 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
My father was chief petty officer on hms salvonia I would like to find out more information but don’t know how if anyone could help
Angela Farrugia
April 20, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Been looking for info on HMS Scylla my dad was on it the Captaon was Captain Macintosh – it was on a Russian & a Maltese convoy- I’m sure it was a battleship
Peterfrancis
May 1, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Very interesting my father was on the Badsworth as a yoman signaler and was awarded the DSM but He never told us what for
Brian James Crabb
December 8, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Dear Peter I wrote a book entitled ‘Operation Pedestal. The story of convoy WS21S in August 1942. It was published in 2015. I also have HMS Badsworth’s Letter of Proceedings which can be supplied free of charge Google: http://www.briancrabbmaritimebooks.co.uk and click on Operation Pedestal for more information. Very Best Wishes Brian James Crabb
Stuart stares
January 16, 2022 at 8:56 pm
My dad served on the Matchless, trying to find any crew lists.
Brian James Crabb
December 8, 2023 at 4:31 pm
Dear Stuart I wrote a book entitled ‘Operation Pedestal. The story of convoy WS21S in August 1942. It was published in 2015. I also have HMS Matchless’ Letter of Proceedings which can be supplied free of charge Google: http://www.briancrabbmaritimebooks.co.uk and click on Operation Pedestal for more information. Very Best Wishes Brian James Crabb
Ann Davies
March 12, 2022 at 2:54 pm
My late father was an able seaman on board SS Wairangi . It was torpedoed twice in the early hours of August 13th 1942. He never spoke much about this experience but was always grateful to have been rescued by a British ship and avoided becoming a prisoner of war.
Brian James Crabb
December 8, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Dear Ann I wrote a book entitled ‘Operation Pedestal. The story of convoy WS21S in August 1942. It was published in 2015. I also have SS Wairangi’s Letter of Proceedings which can be supplied free of charge Google: http://www.briancrabbmaritimebooks.co.uk and click on Operation Pedestal for more information. Very Best Wishes Brian James Crabb
David Burley
January 29, 2024 at 3:44 am
Just seeking confirmation of seaman Samuel Burley on HMS Penn on Malta convoy.