Heavy losses of Axis merchant tonnage in Mediterranean according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 15 January 1942

An item reported that the British sunk in December 1941 35% of the Axis merchant ship tonnage active on the route between Italy-Greece-Crete-Libya. That month was 53,000 ton sunk and another 45,000 tons damaged. The losses could be even higher if the convoys to Libya had not been so heavily escorted. Warships were also used for transporting supplies and troops to Libya.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 15 January 1942 No. 36.