An Italian collapse could release British cruisers and destroyers while Japanese heavy cruisers added further strength to the Atlantic forces. Japanese submarines no longer needed in the Mediterranean could also move through Gibraltar. Faced with so many opposing ships, Germany might keep its capital ships in Norway as a fleet-in-being. A neutral Soviet Union would also remove the requirement for Allied Arctic convoys. The German surface fleet could therefore survive in port while finding fewer opportunities to operate.
Notable Point · 2:50:44-2:51:47
An Italian collapse could leave Germany's fleet in port
Released Mediterranean forces and Japanese reinforcements could make a German surface sortie unattractive.