Word: straitly
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...told that the Italian Navy is coming to gain sea superiority in these waters. If that is seriously intended, I can only say we shall be delighted to offer Mussolini free, safeguarded passage through the Strait of Gibraltar. . . . There is general curiosity in the British Fleet to find out whether the Italians are up to the level they were in the last war or whether they have fallen...
South Anchor of the British blockade is that towering prong of limestone, Hades-hot in summer, 2½ miles long and 1,396 ft. high, which points like a torpedo from the Spanish mainland southward across the 15-mile Strait of Gibraltar separating Europe and Africa...
...east, west and south exposures, mortars and rifles up to 16 inches, capable of hurling metal 20 miles, guard the Rock and deny the Strait of Gibraltar to surface ships. The naval base on the west is protected by chain booms and a minefield...
...Royal Navy's job at Gibraltar, besides keeping the soldiery provisioned, munitioned and reinforced with men and new parts for damaged guns, is to prevent Axis submarines from passing through the Strait. This it would do with depth charges from patrol boats and with steel barrage nets...
...bottom of the Strait drops off to 3,000 ft., but Axis submarines cannot stand water pressures below 400 ft. (190 Ib. per sq. in.). The Strait is too wide for a continuous barrage 400 ft. deep, but "sporadic" netting-here tonight, there tomorrow night-might discourage the most daring Italian or German submarine crews...