The Royal Navy was hunting the Italian battle fleet because its survival constrained British deployments far beyond Taranto. If Italian battleships were disabled, even older R-class battleships could anchor Mediterranean operations against the remaining heavy cruisers. Nelson and Rodney, with their 16-inch guns, would then be less necessary for that theatre. The same counterfactual extends to the Far East and to the force available against Bismarck in the Atlantic. The raid's strategic value included the damage inflicted and the British capital ships that damage might release for other commitments.
Notable Point · 16:10-17:40
How crippling Italy's battle fleet could release British ships
Removing Italy's battleships from the immediate balance could let Britain cover the Mediterranean with older ships and redirect heavier units elsewhere.