Ark Royal was conceived as the large-air-group strike carrier at the center of a multicarrier attack, and Taranto was originally expected to include Eagle as well. The Illustrious design prioritized protected fleet support. Aircraft became larger across a carrier's life, so a ship's first air group was likely to be the largest equivalent mix it would ever carry. That growth had already reduced Courageous, Glorious, and Furious from potential strike carriers toward fleet-support capacity by the approach of World War II. Ark Royal and Illustrious divided the strike and protection requirements under the pressure of aircraft growth and treaty tonnage.
Chapter · 2:04:53-2:07:24
Ark Royal and Illustrious divide strike and survival priorities
Treaty limits force one carrier design toward a large striking air group and another toward armored survivability.