Like the Battle of the Atlantic, much of the Battle of the Mediterranean was about combatants denying each other the use of critical shipping lanes while keeping those lanes open for themselves. The Allies sought to protect strategic bases at Gibraltar, Malta, and Egypt against invasion. The Axis powers sought to cut lanes to neutralize Malta, thereby protecting their own supply line to North Africa, and to extend territorial control to include Greece. Malta was of critical importance to the Allies in the Mediterranean for offensive actions against Axis shipping and as an intelligence gathering station.