Yes, what you are describing I call “Taranto Lite”
Lets assume there will always be 3 fighters at this airbase since its standard play. Also that you don’t have to bring up the carrier so that we have to lose any of the “zero” move fighters first.
Taranto is unfortunate because most battles you are going to end up with 2 fig 1 CV that gets destroyed during the retal. So you could bring up to 3 fighters, 2 is more logical. Italy counterattacks, the most likely post-Taranto configuration is;
Italy 1 cruiser, 1 tt remains
UK all ships dead, 1 fig 1 sb 1 tac 2 infantry on Syria
With only 6 hits and 5 defenders even during a scramble, 8 attackers of any kind should be enough.
However, if you don’t bring the carrier, Italy will be much more likely to scramble. The carrier hits are soak-hits (no loss of attack power). Its necessary to ensure they don’t scramble out
1) bid of 6 == buy 1 sub and come in 2 (3) fighters 1 CV 1 DD 1 CA 1 SB 1 tac 1 sub
2) bid of 0 == do it the normal way
3) bid of 12 or higher = buy 2 subs, leave the carrier behind and have it become the nucleus of a new fleet.
I’ve looked at this over and over, and even with the 1 sub bid, keeping the CV back isn’t a good move. if you get 2 subs, then its an awesome move.