An Italian carrier in 1941 would need a protected route to completion

How would an Italian carrier entering service in 1941 change the Mediterranean war?

It could lead to a major carrier battle, but an Adriatic construction yard would probably be needed to protect it from British attack before completion.

An Italian carrier entering service in 1941 could bring a major carrier battle into the Mediterranean war. Its survival during construction would be the first difficulty, because the Royal Navy would make the ship a priority target. The assessment is that an Adriatic yard would offer the protection needed to complete it. The counterfactual therefore depends on where the carrier is built and whether it can reach the sea before the British destroy it.