The summary traces a chain from Mers-el-Kébir and Taranto to Mediterranean convoy protection and the Far East. Additional carrier capacity compounds because it can remove threats, lower risk to other ships, and free scarce capital ships for new tasks. A badly weakened Italian fleet could be contained by older R-class battleships rather than fast modern units. Those released ships and carriers could reinforce the Eastern Fleet earlier, so the effect of two surviving hulls spreads well beyond their own sorties.
Chapter · 2:13:13-2:15:27
Why two carriers create outsized strategic effects
In a small pre-war carrier force, two saved ships enable multi-carrier operations, reduce escort demands, and release other forces for different theatres.