Force H helped cover Illustrious as the armoured carrier moved into the eastern Mediterranean for the operations that culminated at Taranto. The Italians already regarded Ark Royal as the Royal Navy's conspicuous alpha-strike carrier and repeatedly sought opportunities to attack her. Her activity elsewhere drew Axis attention while Illustrious prepared the harbour strike. Ark Royal's fame had become an operational asset because the visible carrier threat helped conceal where the decisive concentration was forming.
Notable Point · 42:12-43:24
Ark Royal helped conceal the Taranto concentration
Ark Royal covered Illustrious's move east and used her conspicuous strike-carrier reputation to draw Italian attention away from preparations for Taranto.