Allied convoys can hug the North African coast, use French ports, and make only the short exposed crossing from Tunisia to Malta. Italian traffic to Libya, by contrast, must pass between Tunisian bases and Malta through a submarine, destroyer, torpedo-boat, and aircraft funnel. Even without an immediate French land offensive, Italy must guard a hostile frontier behind its Libyan army. Combined maritime and land pressure therefore makes an early collapse likely, before Rommel can establish the historical North African campaign.
Chapter · 36:17-38:43
Tunisia and Malta close the convoy funnel to Libya
Allied Tunisia turns the route to Libya into a narrow corridor exposed to submarines, destroyers, torpedo boats, and air cover.