Survivable fleet carriers and smaller ASW escorts

Courageous was especially vulnerable because her large-light-cruiser origins provided neither the subdivision nor torpedo defense of an Admiral-class hull. A larger conversion might survive the U-boat attack that sank her, but that durability would not make submarine hunting a sensible use of such a valuable ship. A repeatable 10,000-ton Hermes-style cruiser carrier would instead handle convoy escort and anti-submarine work, leaving the fleet carriers for tasks that needed their speed and air groups. Under the early treaty definition, a ship below 10,000 tons did not count as a carrier, so a joking proposal declares a new design at 9,999 tons even though historical Hermes missed the threshold by about 500 tons. A series of such small carriers could also cover enough support work to make a separate Unicorn-style maintenance carrier less necessary. The Glorious scenario changes because a larger air group could carry rescued RAF aircraft without surrendering the ability to maintain a defensive patrol. With ample aircraft and a senior flag staff aboard, the absence of combat air patrol would be much harder to excuse.