Cavour lost, Littorio saved, and a fleet still in being

Conte di Cavour was hit by a single torpedo and never returned to service, so one successful attack permanently removed a capital ship. Littorio absorbed three hits, one aft and two forward, and survived because of quick damage-control action. A failed closure or slightly greater damage might have caused her to settle completely and become another write-off. Although saved, Littorio was visibly vulnerable and temporarily unavailable, reinforcing the judgment that Taranto was unsafe. Italy still retained enough battleship strength to matter in later operations, so the raid changed the balance without eliminating the Mediterranean naval threat.