A commerce-raiding cruiser had few accessible targets because French shipping could use Atlantic ports or hug the North African coast. Reaching Atlantic trade would also require Italian raiders to pass French bases and aircraft as well as British-controlled Gibraltar. Italian convoys, by contrast, might be attacked by a concentrated French sortie including capital ships. This made ordinary treaty cruisers a poor answer unless they could survive combat with forces substantially larger than themselves.
Notable Point · 13:27-16:12
Why commerce raiding poorly matched Italy's geography
French trade could avoid Italian cruisers or remain under coastal protection, while convoy defense might force Italian escorts to face much heavier French forces.