Even before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Royal Navy had studied the threat in the Mediterranean posed by the Italian fleet, which had its advance base in the new port of Taranto in the "heel" of Italy.
The Royal Navy had studied the threat in the Mediterranean. This was even before the outbreak of the Second World War. This Mediterranean was posed by the Italian fleet. The Italian fleet had its advance base in the new port of Taranto in the "heel" of Italy.