Q&A ยท 23:35-24:00

Akagi's possible peacetime longevity

Akagi is the tentative choice for a long carrier career in a world without the Second World War.

Question

Which aircraft carrier would have had the best peacetime career if the Second World War had not happened?

Short answer

Probably Akagi, with the length of her career tied to Japan's ability to keep supporting its fleet.

Notes

Akagi would probably have had the longest peacetime career in this counterfactual. That choice comes with uncertainty about how long the Japanese economy could continue supporting its fleet.