A successful Taranto strike could transform the Skua's reputation

Could Skua dive bombers have seriously damaged an Italian battleship at Taranto?

Yes; repeated 500-pound bomb hits might cripple a stationary battleship even if no single hit penetrated decisively.

The Skua's poor reputation as a fighter obscures its potential as a dive bomber. Against a stationary target, roughly two squadrons might produce enough semi-armour-piercing bomb hits to damage engineering spaces. Repeated hits could keep a battleship under repair for much of the war. A conspicuous success could also encourage continued development of the type in its better-suited attack role.