Britain fortifies Malta before World War II

What if Britain invested more heavily in Malta before World War II?

Protected aviation and small-craft infrastructure would make Malta a much more durable interdiction base against Axis logistics.

The proposal puts maintenance spaces, fuel, ammunition, and aircraft shelters underground, with ramps or lifts connecting protected hangars to the airfield. Submarines and motor torpedo boats would receive sheltered spaces for maintenance inside the rock as well. That protection would help aircraft and small craft keep attacking German and Italian reinforcement traffic to North Africa. One suggestion is that the greater difficulty facing Fliegerkorps X could allow Operation Compass to resume after a pause rather than lead to diversion toward Greece. The firmer shared conclusion is that Axis reinforcement and the Afrika Korps buildup would suffer heavier attrition. Dog boats kept safe while repaired by day could sortie at night and meet British convoys approaching Malta, protecting their final run against Italian torpedo boats.