Would the loss of several Italian battleships at Taranto accelerate Roma, and would a magazine explosion change her design?
Short answerProbably, but the same disaster could obstruct the base and invite another strike; safety changes to Roma would also delay the urgently needed replacement.
NotesItaly would probably push harder to finish Roma if Littorio, Duilio, and Cavour were lost instead of repaired. The labor and material historically spent restoring damaged ships could move to the new battleship. Sunken hulls might also block parts of Taranto and encourage Cunningham to order a second night attack after reconnaissance confirmed the damage. If one ship had suffered a catastrophic magazine explosion, modifying Roma would be sensible, but the change would compete with the urgent need to place her in service.