How many carriers the Regia Marina needed

How many prewar carriers, and of what size, would the Regia Marina need?

Six to eight carriers of about 27,000 tons would support strike operations in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, while smaller ships could cover only fighters and reconnaissance.

A 15,000-ton carrier could provide fighters and reconnaissance, but it would offer little strike depth. A more capable ship for the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean would resemble other 27,000-ton prewar carriers. The proposed force needs two ships for the Mediterranean and one or preferably two available for the ocean, with additional hulls required for maintenance and rotation. That produces an estimate of six to eight carriers and roughly 208,000 tons of carrier construction. A ceiling closer to 270,000 tons would make the deployment pattern easier to sustain.