The flotilla imposed real costs on Britain, but represented a greater share of Italy's available resources than the counterforce did for the Royal Navy. Ships withdrawn before war could have escorted Mediterranean convoys, supported fleet movements, or carried supplies to North Africa. Water carriers, fuel ships, and the minelayer would also have strengthened the logistics of the Mediterranean campaign. Losing their trained crews and accumulated experience compounded the material loss, while even the limited fuel stored at Massawa might have enabled another major operation at home.
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Italy paid the larger opportunity cost for the deployment
Destroyers, torpedo boats, auxiliaries, fuel, and trained crews lost in East Africa might have contributed more to Mediterranean convoy operations.