The genuine purpose of the voyage is still disputed, but it is probable that the carrier group was passing through as a show of strength to Indonesia in the wake of the Pontian landings as well as the routine 'goodwill visit' that the vessel was purportedly making to Britain's ally.
Tujuan sebenarnya perjalanan ini masih diperdebatkan, tetapi ada kemungkinan bahwa kelompok kapal induk tersebut lewat sebagai unjuk kekuatan kepada Indonesia mengikuti pendaratan Pontian dan 'kunjungan muhibah' rutin resmi di mana kapal itu konon menuju sekutu Inggris.