Q&A ยท 2:19:10-2:23:46

Could Courageous and Glorious surviving have saved Ark Royal?

Two surviving carriers could relieve Ark Royal's workload, improve maintenance opportunities, and strengthen operations such as Taranto.

Question

Would Courageous and Glorious surviving change Ark Royal's fate?

Short answer

Possibly: they could share operational demand, let Ark Royal refit, and add aircraft to major strikes, reducing the conditions that contributed to her loss.

Notes

Courageous and Glorious were less capable than Ark Royal but could have shared her operational workload. Their survival would give Ark Royal more opportunities for the dry-docking and repair work she lacked. Keeping them would also preserve experienced carrier and damage-control personnel whose loss reduced the expertise available later. More flight decks could enlarge the Taranto strike and inflict heavier damage on the Italian fleet. Those losses could then change subsequent Mediterranean and North African operations.