How earlier carrier losses weakened the Far East

The earlier losses of Ark Royal, Courageous, and Glorious, together with damage to Illustrious and Formidable, reduced the carriers available for the Far East. A carrier with Force Z could have added fighter control and broken up approaching air attacks, giving the ships more time to withdraw. Radar and radio could also have improved requests for support from land-based aircraft. With carrier protection, cruisers and possibly the R-class battleships in the Indian Ocean might have joined a more balanced task force, with the older battleships carrying additional anti-aircraft weapons. These proposed deployments depend on carriers surviving or remaining operational earlier in the war.