Malta lay across the Italian supply route to North Africa and beside the British route between Gibraltar and Alexandria. Opposing convoys could therefore meet while traveling through the same contested corridor. Each escort had to keep its own merchant ships alive while reaching the enemy's merchants before the opposing screen intervened. The transports were the primary objectives, which made these battles simultaneous attack-and-protection problems rather than ordinary fleet engagements.
Notable Point · 32:05-33:31
Why Mediterranean convoy battles were two-sided fights
The central Mediterranean corridor could bring opposing convoys together, forcing both navies to protect their own merchant ships while trying to destroy the enemy's.