Why Mediterranean air power rewarded cruiser speed

Speed answered the geography and air threat of a Mediterranean war. These cruisers could mount fast raids intended to draw French naval forces toward Italian aircraft, then use their speed to break contact. Reconnaissance aircraft had range, but limited loiter time made it harder to track a fast force long enough to direct an interception. Before radar, cloud cover could interrupt visual contact and make position reports stale. Aircraft endurance, weather, and reporting delay could therefore give a fast surface force room to disengage.