Phillips's representative did ask about fighter cover but over the Japanese landing sites, and was told none could be available, but there was no follow-up such as "Then over what area could it be provided?" The fighters were sitting waiting but no-one knew what Phillips was.

I think Ian is under-rating the effect of Indomitable (which wasn't intended to be there) and even the RAF fighters: the main value of even a small amount of air cover is not to down significant numbers of the attackers but to disrupt their carefully orchestrated attacks, There's some query in my mind that the RAF (etc.) pilots would have been aware of this or tactically astute enough to gain maximum benefit, but at least some disruption would have occurred. The FAA was well trained in this in the Mediterranean, yes even with Fulmars. These were proven capable of breaking up the attacks by dedicated SM 79 crews. There seems no reason to doubt their ability to do the same to unescorted Japanese bombers. Had they been there.

As for the Japanese ability to sink all three capital ships, in the face of fighter opposition, that seems doubtful. More likely (to me) they would have diverted most of their attention to the carrier and at least one of the others could have escaped - perhaps two without the lucky hit on PoW. Still a major defeat.