How much larger could the strike have been?

How many Swordfish were originally expected to take part if HMS Eagle had been available?

The two carriers might have produced roughly thirty-six to thirty-eight aircraft for the strike after expected losses, rather than the force actually used.

Illustrious might have provided about twenty-four Swordfish and Eagle another twelve to eighteen. Allowing for losses, that could have made a strike of roughly thirty-six to thirty-eight aircraft. The added capacity could have doubled the torpedo force without requiring the flare element to grow at the same rate. Carrier availability placed a direct limit on the scale of the attack.