Force K's strategic effect extended beyond the cargo ships lost in individual attacks. The Italians had to tie down battleships and other major naval units to move supplies to North Africa. Those heavy warships needed fuel and supplies of their own, on top of the requirements of the land force. By forcing the Axis to commit heavy naval assets to the route, Force K made an existing logistics problem larger and more complicated.
Notable Point · 1:35-2:09
How Force K magnified the North Africa supply burden
By forcing Italy to devote major naval units to protecting North African supply traffic, Force K made an already difficult logistics problem more demanding.