The returning carrier needed a broad replenishment of aircraft spares and maintenance material. Air operations imposed attrition even when enemy weapons missed: contaminated oil removed three Swordfish from the available force, more than enemy action did during the raid. Night handling, fuel systems, engine wear, and battle damage all consumed maintenance capacity. Aircraft numbers on paper therefore differed from the force a carrier could actually launch.
Notable Point · 2:48:55-2:49:36
Operational attrition beyond enemy fire
Illustrious lost more Swordfish availability to contaminated oil and mechanical strain than to Italian fire during the operation.