January 12,1943   Though good progress had been made in the Sand and the Axis was ready to fold Malta was still there as a threat to all convoys. With the Italian fleet stationed at Malta the Allies had been very fortunate up to this point in the War they had not been decimated and had been able to avoid Italies battleships which had time and time again thwarted Brit plans throughout the area. Now the Americans were sending their Fleets and the 8th, Malta had to be taken no matter the cost. In London Winston Churchill advised against attacking Malta until a 1,000 plane bomber force could hit the Island. Dwight Eisenhower in charge of the Strategic North African campaign had his hand forced by Joseph Stalin demanding the Allies make a major assault and not in the Sand. So Malta had to go as to not be a threat to the flanks when Sicily would be the target soon in 'Operation LittleJohn'. So the Italian fleet was offered up a Convoy of fast ships and it took the bait. So now to move, capture Malta and build it up for the Allies to use instead of the Axis and hope the Italian fleet could be harassed enough it returned to Taranto instead of Malta.
