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Background:
Mussolini entered WW II in the worst possible way. He attacked France, which was already defeated and could not even conquer a decent piece of land fighting in the Alps and the coast. He did not warn his merchant fleet, so 1/4 was captured by the allies at the outset. He did not prepare or warn his troops in Libya, his border troops found out when they were attacked and captured. He exposed his navy and coastal cities to the formidable British navy and Mussolini's ships did not have Radar, so they had to fight blind at night.
A few months after declaring war Mussolini forced his generals to attack the British in Egypt, although they pointed out that without enough planes, trucks, cannon, etc, the campaign was doomed. When the British counter attacked they captured 130,000 italians and thousands of machine guns and cannon that were given to the Greeks, who used them to defeat the Italians.

Assuming that Mussolini uses his brain, listens to his generals and coordinates better with Hitler:
On May 1, 1940 Mussolini orders his navy and air force to prepare for the imminent invasion of Malta and Tunisia. He informs Hitler of his intentions and requests 200 German planes and pilots, Trucks, cannon, etc, to assist him in his attack. Mussolini also expalins to Hitler that without Radar, his ships are useless at night, so that if the Italian fleet is to defeat the British fleet, Hitler must provide it with Radar.
On June 8, 1940, when Mussolini knows that France is doomed, he warns his fleet, navy and army that Italy might soon be at war so that the ships sail to italian or neutral ports and the troops are prepared to defend themselves or to attack.
On June 10 he Launches the invasion of Malta and Tunisia and sends submarines, destroyers and planes to defend these areas and to block access to British ships to Alexandria.
On July 1, he receives more German planes, troops, etc, and launches the invasion of Egypt.
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