The World War II siege's human and material cost

An accompanying image shows HMS Illustrious under repair after operational damage, giving the loss totals a concrete ship-level example. The figures then set out the Allied and civilian cost of maintaining Malta under sustained Axis attack. Hundreds of fighters were lost in the air or on the ground, while battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines were damaged or destroyed. More than 2,300 airmen were killed or wounded. Roughly 30,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, and about 1,300 civilians were killed. These losses were terrible even though Malta's population fared better than in some earlier sieges. The island's survival was a costly operational achievement rather than a bloodless strategic success.