I am unfamillier(SP)? with this topic or heading...All in all the Italian navy in the Med, got and received a poorhistorical place or page in history during WW2. Numerous accounts for this was headed by the Germans as being the scape-goat for supplies sunk en-route to north africa. It is ironic, that the top Italian naval codes where never broken by bletchley park, albeit the Germans where convinced they had, and resupplies where sent and informed as to routes, arrival time, and ports to german and Italian dock and landing parties. These where simply deceifered, a spotter plane kept the secret of enigma, and cunningham was sent upon sinking these convoys...In all this, Erwin Rommel at the end of the North Africa campaign, and one of the last support convoys to try and thwart the tide of battle, after all ships sending re-inforcements, fuel, supplies, etc where sunk, he still had enough humour to send an enigma code to Rundstedt, thanking him for the few barrels which washed ashore....

In Len Deightons book....Blood, tears & Folly, he speaks at Italian naval battle messages not being deciphered and sent to Cunningham, but because the Italian fleet sent 2 messages a day to Luftwaffe units using Enigma codes at to Naval movements, direction, and along which routes, in their sailing to....an example of this cloak and dagger fighting of the Royal Navy provided a clue such as this..."the mighty Vittorio Veneto from Naples, three cruisers from Messian, three cruisers- Fiume, Pola and Zara-from Taranto and two cruisers from Brindisi, were to coordinate sweeps along the coast of crete."

In the light of the enigma message, british convoys were directed away from the danger area. This had to be done with discretion incase the Italian navy realized their plans whjere known. it goes into more detail as to how Cunningham was able to do this, and how Enigma helped to swing Naval victories towards the Royal Navy, and leave a legacy of poor Naval action upon the Italian Fleet, and Admirals...quite interesting actually...

Had both side not had the hindsight of clues, or reading each others mail, Italian fleet might just have sealed up the Med, causing a giant defeat upon the British army, and resulting in what Raeder said all along, the bombing of London won't bring Great Britian to her knee's , but a majotr defeat, the removal of Churchill for this, and the light of perhaps a treaty would be signed as Hitler had hoped all along with Britian might be achieved...

bf109 Emil