Q&A · 31:52-33:18

An Allied Japan would preserve mixed carrier and capital-ship fleets

Without the Pacific carrier battles, major navies would have weaker evidence that aircraft carriers could replace capital ships altogether.

Question

If Japan joined the Allies, what balance of carriers and capital ships would the major navies keep during and after the Cold War?

Short answer

Britain, America, and Japan might keep about two carriers per capital ship, while France could favor one for one because the case for eliminating capital ships would be less conclusive.

Notes

An Allied Japan removes the wartime carrier battles that historically demonstrated how decisively naval aviation could destroy fleets at sea. Major navies would therefore be likely to retain mixed forces rather than abandon gun-armed capital ships quickly. Britain, the United States, and Japan might seek roughly two carriers per capital ship, while France could favor a one-to-one balance. A dominant new weapon can still be checked by an unexpected defensive technology, making cautious procurement plausible.