While talking about the belligerents strength and weaknesses, it is pertinent to mention that British Base at Malta, due to its strategic location, was of supreme importance for offensive operations against Italian Sea Lines of communication to Libya and also for protection of British SLOCs. Exposed position of Malta made it very likely that the Italians would attempt its early capture. Italians by virtue of their central position could generate superior Force in the area of their choice. On the other hand British could attack from two directions, i.e. from east and from west. Italian Navy enjoyed numerical superiority in Mediterranean. Then the Italian SLOCs to North Africa were short and passed directly south. However, British SLOCs were long and were more vulnerable especially in the central Mediterranean. Italian ships were relatively newer, faster and had superior calibre and extended gun ranges. Availability of aircraft carrier and radar with British Navy gave them technological

British were well trained, battle hardened, with high morale and confident of their superiority. Whereas, Italian navy and air force were poorly trained both in independent and joint operations at sea.

The Mediterranean has remained a highway for the commerce by merchants trading for centuries. Its geostrategic location makes it a strategically vital sea for countries inside as well as outside the Mediterranean. Control of its islands, coasts, and trade routes were vital during both World Wars. Shipping route through Mediterranean is much shorter than route around Cape of Good Hope. Mediterranean Sea, strategically located between the Europe and Africa, became a vital theatre of operations for the desert war in North Africa. All the supplies of Axis and majority of those of Allied had to pass through the Mediterranean to reach their respective land

144 Part Three: The Battle of Ghazala 1941-42 and SLOCs forces in North Africa. Hence, security of SLOCs figured prominently right at the outset. The maritime strategy in the Mediterranean revolved around commerce warfare with one power trying to deliver supplies to its army in the desert, while the other aiming to deny it. Britain and France controlled Gibraltar at the narrow entrance from the Atlantic. Italy stood astride the central basin with Sardinia and Sicily to the north and Libya to the south. Mediterranean provided the shortest route to European and US bound trade with Asia and Far East through the straits of Gibraltar on one side and Suez Canal at the other. The British traditionally considered the Mediterranean her lifeline to the Suez Canal and its routes to India, Middle East and the Far East. France considered it high roads to her colonies in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. For Italy, it had been the lifeline, as 99% of her trade passed through Mediterranean.