Malta, August 1942: The Maltese were desperate. Supplies for food and ammunition were quickly running out, and without them they were doomed. And so begins the story of the British operation to get essential supplies to Malta during World War 2, Operation Pedestal, or The Convoy of Santa Marija, as it is popularly known.

The Convoy included two battleships, three aircraft carriers, seven cruisers, thirty two destroyers and fourteen merchant ships. Air and sea attacks sank nine cargo ships, an aircraft carrier, two cruisers and a destroyer. The British claimed an Italian submarine and thirty-nine aircraft. Despite these terrible losses, enough crucial supplies were delivered to enable Malta to continue as an offensive base.

Among the merchant ships was MV Glenorchy, which was torpedoed and sunk by Italian forces. Until this day, the Glenorchy has not been found.

1939 delivered initially as a commercial vessel

1940 June after the entry of italy into the war she was earmarked for government controlled supply work in the meditterranean. Took part in the malta convoys from Alexandria including two solo dashes but they were before the African campaigns began in earnest

1941 late : returned via the cape to the UK fitted with extra anti aircraft armaments

1942: aug 3 : left the Clyde fully laden with stores for malta

aug 10- 13: took part in the convoy WS (Winston special) 21S, known as operation pedestal, the relief of malta. 15 merchant ships including the tanker Ohio.

They were escorted from Gibraltar by the battleships Nelson and Rodney, four fleet aircraft carriers, Eagle (sunk on her 9th replacement aircraft trip), Furious, Indomitable and victorious, seven cruisers and 30 destroyers. In addition four scouting subs were positioned between the convoy and the Italian naval bases at naples and taranto. To draw any forces from the latter a dummy convoy set off from Alexandria but turned back after 24 hrs.

Aug 13: 04:30 The Glenorchy was torpedoed and sunk by E boats five miles north west of Kelibia lighthouse, Tunisia. Crew of 88. 8 Killed (amongst whom was the captain who decided to go down with the ship; the last master ever to take such a brave decision in the British navy), 2 injured. She was one of five sunk in the Narrows

Aug 13/15 only five ships arrived: Port Chalmers, Melbourne Star, Brisbane Star (both Blue Star), Rochester Castle (Union Castle) and the critically damaged but absolutely vital Ohio (Texas Oil Co. on British Charter) which arrived on August 15. Her master, Captain D W. Mason was awarded the George Cross

Latest Update

6 August 2007

Santa Maria Convoy ship found by X'Qala l-Bahar team

Over the past months, X'Qala l-Bahar, a Where's Everybody production, has been investigating the possibilities of finding the MV Glenorchy, a merchant ship which was part of Operation Pedestal, or as it is better known, the Santa Maria Convoy. The Glenorchy was torpedoed and sunk, and until recently, never found.

After recently finding the co-ordinates for the Glenorchy wreck, the X'Qala l-Bahar team, headed by Emi Farrugia, set off on an expedition to find the ship, in Tunisian waters. The Glenorchy was found a few days later, where the team also had the chance to dive on the wreck as well as film the whole experience.

'The fact that I touched history was incredible,' says Pablo Micallef, producer and presenter of X'Qala l-Bahar. 'The outcome of the expedition has given me hope to keep looking for more wrecks of historical value, and I'm truly looking forward to it.'

For the full report, look for George Cini's article this Friday in The Times.

Watch the expedition towards the MV Glenorchy, and exclusive underwater footage of the wreck, only on X'Qala l-Bahar on Monday 13th August, after the 8pm news, on TVM.

26 July 2007

Following the news that the X'Qala l-Bahar team found the co-ordinates of the sunken MV Glenorchy, a merchant ship that was part of the Santa Marija Convoy, the X'Qala l-Bahar team has set off on an expedition to Tunisia to find the ship. Led by Emi Farrugia, the team is currently exploring Tunisian waters where they hope to find the Glenorchy.

The MV Glenorchy was torpedoed and sunk by Italian forces, on August 13, 1942, after the battle cruiser protecting it, the HMS Manchester, was attacked and made defenseless. Out of a crew of 88, 8 were killed, amongst whom was the captain, G. Leslie, who decided to go down with the ship. He was the last master ever to take such a brave decision in the British Navy.

1st July 2007

The X'Qala l-Bahar production team, headed by Emi Farrugia, are proud to announce that they have found the co-ordinates of the MV Glenorchy, a merchant ship that was part of the Convoy of Santa Marija. The MV Glenorchy was sunk by a German e-boat torpedo, with no survivors. Until now, the ship had not been found.

According to the team, information was given by local fisherman, and nobody knows what type of wreck it is, though it is known by locals as the Mexican.

May 2007

X'Qala l-Bahar will be aksing the all-important question: where could the Glenorchy be?

We are currently investigating the possible whereabouts of this sunken merchant ship. We will be keeping our viewers informed of any new developments, and if we manage to make any breakthroughs.