Mediterranean submarines under constant air and surface pressure

Smaller British and Italian coastal submarines suited the Mediterranean's shallow water better than large ocean-going types, yet the theater gave neither side much room or time to recover. Convoy battles combined submarines, land-based aircraft, and surface forces in the same compact operational space. A submarine that could not attack might still radio a contact report and bring aircraft onto a convoy within minutes. Escorts then faced a hard choice between hunting the boat and remaining with the convoy against the air attack or another submarine using that attack as cover.