Actually, it wasn't Rommel that was to blame....he would've been wrapt if they'd sorted Malta out, because it was the extraordinary defensive and offensive tactics of the small forces on the island that kept stuffing-up his supply convoys...they WERE the 'thorn in his side'... - The blame lay squarely at Hitler's feet, as he was going into Russia and drew-off much needed aircraft for that, Crete and the Western Desert and he also ruled-out a paratroop invasion after the heavy losses incurred capturing Crete;... then there was doubt [well placed] as to whether the Italian Navy could do it's bit...and besides, they still couldn't achieve Air Superiority over Malta...Between first Blenheims, then Beauforts based at Luqa, combining with the RN Submarines based at Lazaretto, they punched out the supply convoys...this was why Rommel was fatally overstretched at El Alamein...his problem was then compounded by the Axis stopping it's saturation attacks briefly on Malta, which gave them a much needed respite to restore their strike and defence. - As for the Hurricanes, in the early Spring of 1942, they were out-performed by the new Bf-109F's, but never out-flown, because our fellows were so good. Those pilots were experienced peacetime, France and BoB pilots, even if they were flying half a dozen/dozen [ depending on serviceability] clapped-out Hurri's. These were followed by about 16 Spitfires...they didn't last long and 46 flew in April '42...after 48 hours, only 7 were serviceable. They then got another 64 in, followed by another 17 twelve days later...That finally helped turn the tide........