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Operation Hats, a British escort mission to Malta in Aug/Sep 1940, saw the RM briefly in a position to engage British battleships with superior numbers (4/2 BB, 0/1 CV, 7/1 C(H), 7/4 C, 39/17 DD), at least according to the link.
The link claims the RM high command "squandered" the opportunity for a devastating blow. However, might that CV (Illustrious) have made up the difference? What sayeth the crowd?