The Italians had been wrongly informed that the Mediterranean Fleet had only one operational battleship and no aircraft carrier but there were three battleships and a damaged British aircraft carrier (HMS "Illustrious") had been replaced by HMS "Formidable".
The Mediterranean Fleet had only one operational battleship. This was what the Italians had been wrongly informed. The Mediterranean Fleet had no aircraft carrier. This was what the Italians had been wrongly informed. There were three battleships. A damaged British aircraft carrier (HMS "Illustrious") had been replaced by HMS "Formidable".