The island of Malta had been the strategic naval location for the Royal Navy for 150 years, when in 1940, with Germany waging war and Italy as an air threat, Britain moved operations to Alexandria, Egypt. They left the protection of Malta to the French Navy, but when France fell to Germany, the defense of this important island controlling commerce lines was once again a British priority. Pictured is the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare during the Battle of Calabria, 9 July 1940.
