A crisp analysis of the the climactic convoy battles of 1942 wherein it's demonstrated that a cross-over point had been reached in the comparative abilities of the Royal Navy and Regia Marina, in which the British forces had essentially lost the war of attrition to the Italians; though this is perhaps a commentary on how Britain's world-wide commitments had caught up with her whereas the Italians had only one naval theater that mattered. O'Hara also muses on some of the ironies of history, particularly how the much celebrated North African campaign was really a sideshow for all involved, except that in 1940 the British had to go on the offensive SOME WHERE and taking on the Italians was their best option. The problem is that fighting in North Africa was arguably the choice that meant the empire East of Suez could not be defended, with all the history that follows in the wake of that debacle. ( )