Malta was an offensive base astride the Axis supply route to North Africa as well as a destination for British convoys. Enigma-derived information could send cruisers and destroyers toward an expected convoy before it came into sight. Aircraft from Malta then found the ships and guided the surface force onto the target. The visible reconnaissance sighting provided a plausible explanation for the interception, helping protect the intelligence source while Force K attacked the most valuable traffic.
Notable Point · 20:06-21:42
Malta combined Enigma intelligence with air reconnaissance
Malta could turn decoded convoy information into air reconnaissance and precisely directed surface attacks on Italian supply traffic.