Presupposing the Italians join Germany and Austria Hungary at the start of the Great War, What effect will they have on naval combat in the Mediterranean?
I'm not concerned with how they join, considering the unlikelyhood. But they join at the start. Prior to their decision to remain neutral the alliance had made provisions in 1900 to divide up the region between Italy and A-H with the Italians in the west A-H in the Adriatic and joint operations in the east.
However, with the arrival of the German Mediterranean division and the expansion of the Austrian and Italian fleets they would have reached at least parity with the British and French in the region. Being that they had already planned for joint operations, especially against French troop movements from Africa how would this situation effect the war in the Mediterranean?
*with the German division operating with the joint forces of Italy and austria i am also assuming the Ottomans remain neutral at least at the beginning of the war.