French bases, Algeria, Morocco, and the British position around Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria shaped a largely defensive opening strategy. North African supplies could move partly overland between Morocco and Algeria, easing the maritime problem compared with Italy's connection to Libya. French Syria appeared exposed, but adjacent British mandates in Palestine and Iraq and the Royal Navy's regional bases raised the political and military cost of a major Italian move into the eastern Mediterranean. Fighting west of Sardinia and Corsica could occur under French air cover, while action farther east would favor Italian aviation. That geography rewarded fast cruisers able to protect reinforcement traffic and survive in contested airspace.
Chapter · 33:02-36:00
Western Mediterranean geography favored speed and air defense
France could defend North African reinforcement routes near its own air cover, but operations nearer Italy demanded speed and stronger anti-aircraft protection.