How early 2,000-horsepower engines would shape carriers

What carriers would interwar navies build if 2,000-horsepower aircraft engines or basic jets existed in 1935?

Carrier designs would remain broadly familiar, with Britain probably seeking an Implacable-like design earlier. More powerful aircraft would not remove the need for protection while long-range warning remained uncertain.

More powerful piston engines or basic jets in 1935 would leave carrier designs broadly recognizable, with treaty arrangements still affecting what could be built. Britain would probably seek Implacable-like ships earlier. Aircraft power alone would not resolve the problem behind British armoured-carrier design: detecting incoming attacks far enough away to rely on fighters for protection. Until radar provided dependable warning, the carrier would still need to be designed to take a hit. The strategic comparison places American and Japanese operations in their Pacific backyard, while Britain faces operations on the other side of the world. A further argument expects a British approach through the South China Sea against Japanese trade, questioning how attractive that scenario would be to planners seeking larger battleships.