How large carriers could have strengthened the Fleet Air Arm

Ships carrying prestigious names such as Howe and Rodney would likely have justified an earlier rear admiral responsible for aircraft carriers. A larger naval air establishment would also have made the case for separate Fleet Air Arm aircraft designs and greater control of procurement. Larger decks and aircraft capacity could bring night-strike and long-range-strike concepts forward because the service would have room for the heavier aircraft those missions demanded. With perhaps 300 aircraft at sea and 500 to 600 including training and reserves, naval orders would be large enough to support dedicated fighters and torpedo bombers. The size of the force would strengthen the case for retaining the expertise needed to specify its aircraft.