The Regia Marina's mix of battleships, cruisers, submarines, and speed made it harder to contain than a one-dimensional blockade problem, especially in narrow Mediterranean waters. The British had to separate Force H from the convoy and manipulate its movements so the Italian fleet would be drawn toward the covering force. This effort shows that Italian speed remained a serious strategic complication even when it did not produce a decisive battle. Operation Halberd also exposed the limit of building around maximum cruiser speed: even Swordfish aircraft aboard HMS Ark Royal could overtake the Italian ships. A ship needs enough speed for its mission without sacrificing other qualities to claim the title of fastest.
Chapter · 24:26-27:25
Operation Halberd shows where cruiser speed stopped being enough
Italian speed created a serious convoy threat in the confined Mediterranean, but Ark Royal's aircraft demonstrated that ships could no longer be the fastest actors in the engagement.