Italy might have linked its North African and East African possessions overland to sustain pressure on Suez from both directions. Much of the intervening territory was nominally British or French but consisted of desert with sparse infrastructure and only scattered oases. A purpose-built road or railway could have supplied the isolated Red Sea position. The maritime campaign depended on land transport as well as ships and bases, even if British forces probably would have interdicted the route.
Notable Point · 45:14-47:49
An overland link might have sustained the Red Sea position
The Italian disruption plan gained a plausible sustainment route only if North Africa and East Africa could be connected across difficult desert terrain.