Britain's Far East shortfall developed through the attrition of its carrier force before December 1941. Illustrious and Formidable were damaged in Mediterranean operations, while the older Eagle was worn down by bombing, high-speed steaming, and continuous employment. Their presence had helped make Taranto, Cape Matapan, and other operations possible, but those successes carried repair and maintenance costs. War therefore reduced deployable strength even when a carrier survived its immediate battle. A ship tied to a repair yard or overdue for replacement could not provide the mobile air cover promised by the pre-war Singapore strategy.
Notable Point · 36:48-37:37
Mediterranean carrier attrition drained the Far East plan
Damage to Illustrious and Formidable and the heavy use of Eagle consumed the carrier availability that pre-war Far Eastern plans had assumed.