American carriers in the wartime Mediterranean

How well would American aircraft carriers have performed in the Mediterranean?

They would perform well until hit, but their protection scheme would make continued operations after damage harder than for British armored carriers.

American carrier design assumed room to maneuver, while British carriers anticipated confined operating areas such as the Mediterranean and South China Sea. An American carrier might survive a hit but still need to withdraw for repairs. British armored carriers were expected to retain some ability to operate after damage. The favorable example involving Ranger assumes a later deployment with the Royal Navy already containing the threat and substantial supporting forces providing cover. Such protection would allow American carrier aircraft to contribute effectively without demonstrating how the carrier would perform under the earlier, more intense air threat.