The Royal Navy of the late 1930s had to consider war with Germany, Italy, Japan, or combinations of them. Gibraltar offered little direct value for a fleet war against Japan and was not the central repair position for operations against Germany. Its strategic payoff lay in controlling and sustaining forces in the Mediterranean. The 1937 investment therefore points to a specific concern about war with Italy.
Notable Point · 57:38-58:55
Gibraltar investment reveals planning for war with Italy
The timing and location of Gibraltar's 1937 dock investment point specifically to Mediterranean contingencies involving Italy.