Illustrious and cumulative bomb damage

Successive bombs destroyed the aft lift and a forward pom-pom mounting, while a hit outside the armoured area riddled the hull and caused flooding and fire. Another bomb penetrated deck armour already struck by an earlier hit and exploded in the hangar. It destroyed the rear sprinkler system, bent the forward lift, and shattered fire curtains, but separate sprinkler zones and fuel drainage limited the fire's spread and available fuel. Bomb hits and near misses also damaged the steering gear, forcing Illustrious to steer with her engines. She reached Grand Harbour still burning after the attacks killed 126 and wounded 91, survived further bombing in Malta, and eventually returned to service. Her survival invites comparison with Ostfriesland in Billy Mitchell's bombing tests, where an older design lacked the same combination of active damage control, movement, and modern flooding arrangements. Repeated damage could still impair closures and other protective systems, so a fleet needed enough ships to withdraw worn carriers for proper repairs.