Italy's North African supply problem before entering the war

Italian deliveries to Tripoli, Benghazi, and Tobruk were already inadequate before the country entered the war. Loading modern destroyers with supplies sacrificed the speed on which their survival depended, exposing them to five British light cruisers in the Espero convoy action. Captain Enrico Baroni saved two ships, but the decision still placed valuable destroyers in a transport role for which their speed could no longer protect them. His death also cost the Regia Marina an officer whose quick reading of the engagement had preserved most of the small force.