Italy faces a dangerous commitment off Crete

Historically, Italy did help the Crete operation, and debate continues over whether its seaborne reinforcement finally broke Allied resistance. A planned assault against heavy batteries would be far more dangerous than that improvised reinforcement mission because the amphibious force would have to be large and committed from the opening attack. The British historically deployed roughly twenty-one destroyers, ten cruisers, two battleships, and a carrier to Crete-related operations. With a week or two of warning, both navies could draw additional regional forces into a battle the Axis could not easily control. Mussolini might compel participation even when Italian naval planners understood the danger.