Carrier availability, prior damage, and chance shaped the cumulative effects of the Mediterranean campaign. HMS Eagle's earlier bomb damage prevented her aircraft from joining Illustrious, reducing the striking force available at Taranto. A second operational carrier might have inflicted enough additional damage to remove several Italian capital ships for much longer. Historically, Taranto and the later Battle of Cape Matapan were serious setbacks rather than decisive blows that knocked the Italian Navy out of the war.
Notable Point · 2:46:42-2:48:29
Taranto set Italy back, but did not end the war
Taranto and Matapan severely damaged Italian naval prospects, yet neither battle alone removed Italy from the Mediterranean war.