Operation PEDESTAL can be called a strategic success. It was also a near run thing & the Brits could not afford many such victories. Nine of fourteen cargo ships were sunk & a tanker sunk at the docks @ Valetta. Also the carrier Eagle was torpedoed & sunk, two cruisers were sunk & a destroyer. A similar number of war ships were damaged. All that by air and light naval forces. Two Italian cruisers were damaged by a Brit submarine. Nothing larger than a Italian destroyer actually engaged in battle.
Here's a partial list of supply runs made to Malta. I've not been able to proof read it or cross check it, so some items are missing. It is clear air did the most damage to the Brit ships in the Malta area, followed by submarines and torpedo boats. Not much in the way of cargo ships was sunk by anything larger. One question that pops into mind is the damage possible had the Italian air force or the small ships been as effective as the Japanese or USN were in 1942. The Italian airfare seems singularly ineffective in 1940. The Italians also clearly had trouble with night battles in 1940 & much of 41.
July 40
Battle of Calabria
Giulio Cesare Damaged
Misc destroyer splinter damage
Both fleets and convoy reach destination
Aircraft ineffective, no torpedo boat action
August
Operation Hurry First Club run
Italians opposed with two moderate air attacks & air. Insignificant damage. Italians not trained for night battle.
September
Operation Hats Convoy MF2 of three fast cargo transports
Italian surface fleet failed to intercept.
October
Operation MB 6 Two simultaneous fast convoys from Gibraltar & Alexandria
Italians fail to identify convoys in time to sortie battle fleet.
Battle of Cape Passero had a Brit light cruiser defeat torpedo boats & destroyer @ night.
November
Operation Judgement Fast convoy ME3 covered by air attack on Italian battle fleet in harbor
Italian battles ships torpedoed by air attack.
Operation White Club run from Gibraltar
Operation failed when eight of twelve Hurricanes launched ran out of fuel
Operation Collar Complex operation including cargo convoy to Malta, air attacks on Italian airbases, & Alexandria to Gibraltar transfer of warships
Italian battle fleet sortied, failed to make effective night attack. Italian submarines fail at night intercept.
December
Convoys MW5A, MW5B, ME5, MG1
Italians fail to identify convoys & fail to intercept
January 1941
Operation Excess Four cargo ships from Gibraltar to Mata & Piraeus
German aircraft intercept, sinking one cruiser, severely damaging a destroy & aircraft carrier Illustrious hit by five bombs. Italian torpedo boat sunk & Italian BB damaged in related operation raiding a port.
Axis air attack on Malta damages cruiser Essex & additional damage to Illustrious.
Febuary
Operation MC8 Cruisers & destroyers run men & some material to Malta
Axis fail to intercept.
March
Operation MC9 Four cargo ships disperse & reach Malta undercover of weather & night.
Axis fail to intercept. Two cargo ships hit in Valetta harbor
April
Operation Winch & Operation Dunlop
Club run Gibraltar to Malta. Single cargo ship escorted to Malta, four empty cargo ships depart Malta under escort, diversionary battle fleet op to cover cargo ships.
Insignificant losses to either side
Tarigo Convoy or Sfax action
Brit destroyers intercept Italian cargo convoy & sink all five cargo ships & one escort, losing one Brit destroyer.
Operation Temple Two Brit cargo ships attempt to infiltrate from Gibraltar to Malta
One sunk by a mine
May
Operation Tiger & Splice Multifaceted op. with convoy from Gibraltar to Alexandria, dropping off a cargo ship at Malta & a cargo convoys from Alexandria to Malta same week.
Axis failed in effective interception as German X Air Corps was in transfer to Balkans.
One cargo ship lost to mine approaching Alexandria.
Operation Splice Club Run to Malta, with no losses.
June
Operation Rocket, Tracer, Railway I & II Club runs to Malta
July
Operation Substance Six cargo ships Gibraltar to Malta. Battle fleet from Alexandria as diversion.
Italian air attacks sank a destroyer, damaged cruiser, destroyer, & cargo ship.
Raid on the harbor by aircraft, torpedo boats and midget subs failed.
August Nothing?
September
Operations Status I, II Club Runs
Operation Propeller Two cargo ships traveling independently.
Operation Halberd Nine cargo ships escorted by battle flirt from Gibraltar to Malta
Air attacks damage BB Nelson & sink one cargo ship
Italian battle fleet sorties & then turns back without interception.
October
Operation Callboy Club Run
Operation MG3 Four empty cargo ships from Malta to Gibraltar independently.
One cargo ship lost to Italian air attack. One driven back to Malta
November
Operation Perpetual Club Run
Ark Royal sunk by submarine
Operation Astrologer Two unescorted cargo ships Gibraltar to Malta
Both sunk by air attacks
Operation Chieftain & Landmark Diversionary fake convoys with battle fleets
Scared the Italians into delaying a convoy
December
Operation MD1 Single cargo ship escorted Gibraltar to Malta
Italian air attacks intercept but fail. Italian battle fleet sortie fails to intercept
January 1942
Operation MF2 One fast cargo ship from Alexandria with cruiser escorts. One cargo ship from Malta returned with escorts
Axis air and submarines fail to intercept.
Operation MF3 Four cargo ships in two convoys from Alexandria
Air attacks sink one cargo ship & submarine one destroyer.
In repeat operation two cargo ships transit Alexandria/Malta & opposite direction. No interception.
February
Operation MF5. Three cargo ships from Alexandria with destroyers & cruiser escort.
Two cargo ships sunk by air attack. Third tried back to Alexandria.
One destroyer sunk at dock in Valletta harbor by air attack.
March
Operation Spotter Club Run
Operation MG1 Four cargo ships from Alexandria, with cruiser & destroyer escorts.
Italian BB sortied with cruisers. Came close, causing the convoy to disperse. Air attacks sank one cargo ship at sea. Other three made harbor, but were sunk at docks before significant cargo unloaded.
Operation Picket Club Run
Italian submarines intercept, but torpedo attack ineffective.
April
Operation Calendar Club Run by USS Wasp
Two submarines & two destroyers sunk in Valetta harbor by Axis air attacks
May
Operations Bowery & LB Club runs
June
Operation Style Club Run
Operation Julius Simultaneous convoys from Alexandria with eleven & Gibraltar with six cargo ships.
Air attacks vs the western convoy damaged one Brit cruiser & sank four cargo ships . Two Brit destroyers were sunk after a surface action with Italian destroyers. The eastern convoy duels with Italian torpedo boats, submarines, and air attacks four days. A cruiser, three destroyers and two cargo ships sunk. A Italian battle fleet failed to intercept as the convoy turned about to Alexandria.
July
Operation Pinpoint A fast minelayer made a partially escorted run to Malta
Italian air and submarine attacks failed to damage the ship.
Operation Insect Club Run
Carrier Eagle had a fan of torpedos bracket her & all miss
August
Op Pedestal See above
Operation Baritone Club Run
September
Submarine running supplies to Malta lost
October Four supply subs reach Malta
None lost
Operation Train Club Run
November
Operations Age & Crupper Efforts two slip independant cargo ships through
Attempt to run cargo ships disguised as French intercepted by French
Minelayer with cargo gets through air attacks
Six destroyers from Alexandria reach Malta no losses
Operation Stone Age Convoy MW13 of four cargo ships from Alexandria
One Cruiser severely damaged by air attacks
Misc submarine cargo missions
December
Operation Portcullis From Alexandria" five cargo ships of convoy MW14 & nine on convoys MW15-18
All Arrived intact. Axis air attacks ineffectual