Why Illustrious changed Cunningham's options

Illustrious gave Cunningham both a larger mixed air group and Rear Admiral Lister's experience of the Taranto plan. Her capacity for roughly thirty to forty useful aircraft widened the options beyond those available with Eagle. Eagle's Swordfish-centred air group suited a cruiser-support role, spotting for cruisers, finding surface raiders and using torpedoes to slow them. It was poorly balanced for confronting an enemy carrier independently. Pound had told Cunningham about the Taranto notes when handing over Mediterranean command, and Illustrious's arrival brought the planner and the necessary carrier together.