What could the Allies have done with a captured Zara?

What might have happened if the Royal Navy had captured a Zara-class cruiser after Cape Matapan?

If serviceable, it might have served in the Indian Ocean or gone to an Allied navy, but returning it to Britain would have been cumbersome.

The captured ship's usefulness would depend first on its condition. A serviceable Zara might have been reflagged for the Indian Ocean or transferred to an Allied navy such as Greece or Poland, while the Mediterranean would be an unlikely employment area. Sending the ship from Alexandria to Britain would require a long voyage around Africa, so inspection and documentation might have offered more value than moving it home.