Eagle moved from the Indian Ocean into the Mediterranean during July 1940, while the newly commissioned Illustrious arrived through Operation Hats in September. This sequence suggests Admiral Pound was building carrier strength for the planned attack on Taranto. In the alternate deployment, Glorious would most likely join the eastern Mediterranean Fleet while Courageous remained fast enough to reinforce Ark Royal in Force H. Five available carriers would support both offensive concentration and the fighter defence needed under land-based air attack. The assignment also explains why a surviving sister might spend only a limited period in the Mediterranean before moving to another theatre.
Chapter · 1:49:36-1:51:34
Operation Hats concentrates carriers for Taranto
The movement of Eagle and Illustrious into the Mediterranean shows a deliberate carrier concentration for Taranto and convoy air defence.