Podcast Summary: "The Siege Of Malta: Britain's Submarine Ace (Part 2)"

Podcast: WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Hosts: Al Murray and James Holland
Episode Title: The Siege Of Malta: Britain's Submarine Ace (Part 2)
Date: October 30, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode continues the deep dive into the Siege of Malta during World War II, shifting focus from the overwhelming Axis air assault to the formidable defense and counterattacks mounted from the besieged island—especially those by British submariners like Lieutenant Commander David Wanklyn and his crew aboard HMS Upholder. The hosts blend meticulous military history with personal testimonies, dark humor, and gritty detail, exploring how Malta became a "thorn in the Axis side."

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The Value and Challenges of Malta (01:59–04:30)

• Malta as both strategic prize and problem: The island's location makes it critical for controlling the Mediterranean, affecting both Axis and Allied operations.
• Recap of Part 1: Deteriorating defenses, under-supplied airfields, and the aggressive spirit of the Royal Navy under Admiral Cunningham (ABC).
• Key insight: The importance of Malta isn’t just defensive—it’s what the British can do offensively from there.

2. The Human Experience: Civilian and Military Endurance (04:40–06:54)

• Stories of daily life under constant bombing:
  • Suzanne Parlby, a British Cypher clerk, stays by choice and vividly describes the terror and necessity to suppress fear.
  • [Memorable quote, Suzanne Parlby, via James, 05:14]

    “You had to use your willpower to quell the fear which would be trying to burst out from within. Showing your fear, of course, was unthinkable, but sometimes it was hard not to.”

• Air raid shelters and the increasing use of tunnels as both refuges and operations centers.

3. Malta’s Fighter Crisis: Outclassed and Under-supplied (06:54–12:08)

• Luftwaffe dominance:
  • Oberleutnant Joachim Müncheberg's Staffel (7./JG 26) decimates the RAF Hurricanes—42 shot down for zero loss in two months.
  • Hurricanes' poor climbing power leaves Malta virtually undefended (“might as well have had no fighter planes whatsoever”—James, 07:23).
• Frustration over slow RAF response:
  • “This is a very early indication that Hurricanes are not suitable for Malta… Why are you sending any Hurricanes at all?” —James (12:08)
• The need for Spitfires is recognized by frontline pilots and ignored at higher command for logistical reasons.

4. Daily Life and Morale on Malta (13:13–18:06)

• Rationing (fuel and food), conscription, and the struggle for basic services.
• Cultural resilience: The Times of Malta continues daily publication; ENSA-style concert parties and entertainers like Christina Ratcliffe keep morale up.
• [Comic interlude, 17:29]
  “There’s a lady without.” “Without what?” “Well, without food and clothing. Well, give her some food and bring her in.”

5. Submarine Warfare: Upholder and the Learning Curve (18:06–26:55)

• Introduction to HMS Upholder and Lt. Cmdr. David Wanklyn—new to command, untested in combat.
• Technical and tactical difficulties of small, underpowered U-class submarines:
  • Range, torpedoes, periscope calculations, the crucial “director angle,” and necessity to fire from dangerously close range.
• Inter-service frustrations: Pre-war rules prevent unrestricted attacks on enemy merchant vessels, squandering chances to strike at the Axis (Afrika Korps shipments).

6. Early Struggles, Setbacks, and Lessons (25:10–27:35)

• Upholder’s early patrols are plagued by misses (“Eight torpedoes were fired without scoring a single hit. A result which can only be described as extremely disappointing.”—message from Captain Roar, 32:50).
• Malta’s isolation heightened by Axis minefields and inadequate minesweepers.

7. Shifting the Tide: Submarine and Air Force Successes (29:20–47:49)

• British setbacks in North Africa, Greece, and Crete free up Malta, temporarily, from sustained Luftwaffe attacks.
• The rise of offensive submarine action:
  • HMS Upholder’s breakthrough:
    • After being threatened with loss of command, Wanklyn scores multiple sinkings:
      • [34:03–37:13] Sinks merchant ships and, notably, a German troopship (Conti Rosso, 18,000 tons, 1,300 troops lost) under dramatic and dangerous circumstances.
  • Visuals: Upholder returns flying a “Jolly Roger” with 4 bars and crew in looted German helmets.
    [Al: “That’s a Guy Ritchie film, them coming back in in their German helmets, isn’t it?” 37:13]
• Fleet Air Arm operations:
  • Daring nighttime mine-laying and torpedo sorties by Fairey Swordfish.
  • 19-year-old aircrewman Nat Gold exemplifies nerve and chaos: engine-off glides through flak, navigation mishaps, and unflappable responses (“the old Pegasus engine never let us down…” 37:25–41:53).

8. Rebuilding Malta’s Defenses: Airpower and Anti-aircraft Guns (42:00–51:35)

• Arrival of more Hurricanes (not Spitfires), giving very partial air superiority due mainly to the Luftwaffe’s temporary absence.
• Defenses: Heavy and light AA guns multiply; major convoy breakouts.
• Failed Italian E-boat attack on Grand Harbor demonstrates improved defense coordination.

9. Malta Becomes the Axis’ Bane (51:45–58:06)

• Golden Phase: Malta’s offensive capacity peaks—air and submarine operations are well-coordinated.
• Submarine flotilla status achieved; Upholder scores massive convoy kills (Neptunia and Oceania, both 19,500 tons).
• [Notable quote, Captain Roar, 54:28]:

  “Lieutenant Commander Wanklin’s devastating accuracy at 5,000 yards range in poor light and his ship yawing badly was almost unbelievable, and shows the highest skill—not altogether unexpected from this most able officer.”

• With Ultra intelligence breakthroughs and the deployment of Force K (cruisers & destroyers), naval ambushes wipe out Axis convoys (“The result was a holocaust for the Italians—nine out of ten merchant vessels sunk.”—James, 55:55).
• In November alone, 70% of Axis supplies are sunk, far exceeding the wolf packs’ successes in the Atlantic.
• Wanklyn awarded the Victoria Cross. Surprised during lunch when Shrimp Simpson reveals the ribbon sewn onto his tunic (56:46).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Suzanne Parlby’s fear:
  “[05:14] You had to use your willpower to quell the fear which would be trying to burst out from within. Showing your fear, of course, was unthinkable, but sometimes it was hard not to.”
• James on RAF frustration:
  “[12:08] Why are you sending any Hurricanes at all? What's the point? Because they're just going to get shot down. They're not achieving anything, so why bother?”
• Al on Upholder’s audacity:
  “[37:13] That’s a Guy Ritchie film, them coming back in in their German helmets, isn’t it? Well, he’s missing a trick there. Come on.”
• On submarine action:
  “[47:49] … they’ve just sunk the Conti Rosso, an 18,000 ton troop ship and 1300 Axis troops.”
  “What an action. That's incredible. And to get out of that, you need skill and luck.” —James (47:57)
• On supply destruction:
  “[56:46] By the end of December 1941, Malta is really, really hurting the Axis effort in Libya. In November alone, 70% of all Axis supply sunk.”
• Contextualizing Axis convoys:
  “[55:55] ...The result was a holocaust for the Italians—nine out of ten of the merchant vessels are sunk. The tenth is left ablaze. Three destroyers also sunk...”
• On the burden of war:
  “[54:27] Our job was to stop reinforcements reaching North Africa. And by sinking these ships, this was achieved. But of course, later, one does always think of the appalling loss of life. But, you know, war is awful. Can’t really argue that, can you?”

Structural Timeline (Key Segment Timestamps)

• 01:59 – Personal sketch of Lt. Cmdr. David Wanklyn; the concept of “imperturbability”
• 04:40–06:54 – Suzanne Parlby’s testimony; the Luftwaffe versus Hurricanes
• 10:27–12:08 – Complete Hurricane losses and argument for Spitfires
• 14:43–18:06 – Rationing, conscription, morale, and cultural resilience
• 18:06–26:55 – Intro to submarines; Upholder’s technical/tactical challenges
• 34:03–37:13 – Upholder's breakthrough attacks, dramatic returns to port
• 41:53–47:49 – Swordfish missions, Nat Gold's story, arrival of new fighters
• 47:49–49:49 – Sinking of Conti Rosso; scale and danger of submarine ops
• 49:45–54:56 – Build-up of collective anti-Axis attacks; emergence of the "golden phase"
• 54:28–56:46 – Wanklyn’s recognition; Captain Roar’s commendation and outcomes
• 58:06 – Closing thoughts: Malta’s respite is ending as the Luftwaffe prepares a renewed assault

Tone and Style

• Language: Authentic, energetic, a blend of expert historical analysis and dry, often dark British humor.
• Atmosphere: Immersive, tense, and evocative—with frequent asides celebrating ingenuity and condemning bureaucratic blunders.
• Personal Touch: Hosts frequently reference first-person testimonies, visits to Malta, and direct reflections from the people involved.

Conclusion & Teaser

The episode closes on a bittersweet note. Despite Malta’s temporary ascendancy and staggering infliction of losses on Axis supply lines, the hosts warn that this period of dominance is fragile. The Luftwaffe’s return looms, and the enduring shortage of Spitfires haunts the defenders’ prospects.
Next episode preview: The long-awaited arrival of Spitfires and another epic turn in Malta’s siege.

“The sort of iron law of war is that the enemy has a vote. While the Luftwaffe have been absent, when they return, things are going to get a lot more serious again.” —Al Murray [58:34]