The 1935 document weighs Furious, battlecruisers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers as one operational system. Furious was no match for a six-inch cruiser and could not safely be left unguarded, while air attacks were expected to intensify until nightfall. Heavy ships, cruisers, and destroyers would provide close support, and demonstrations could draw Italian aircraft away from the main operation. Refueling plans also had to account for Gibraltar, Port Mahon, Algiers, Sardinia, Sicily, and the mine risk near Malta.
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1935 carrier escort and Italian air planning
A 1935 Royal Navy planning reading shows carriers, battlecruisers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, air attack, refueling, and Italian diversion risks being weighed together.