If Ark Royal survived into the Eastern Fleet

If Ark Royal survived her torpedoing, would she have served as another USS Robin?

Possibly, although assignment to Somerville's Eastern Fleet would be more consequential because it would create a three-carrier force for Operation C.

A surviving Ark Royal could have served as a temporary U.S. carrier reinforcement, but the Eastern Fleet offers the more consequential possibility. Joining Illustrious and Indomitable would give Somerville three large fast carriers in the Indian Ocean. That core could face the Japanese carrier raid with more aircraft and greater tactical flexibility. Ark Royal's survival would therefore affect theater force structure as much as any temporary deployment as USS Robin.