In this interpretation, First Sea Lord David Beatty was the main reason a plausible Hermes-sister programme did not proceed. Beatty assumed that RAF aircraft from overseas bases would scout for and support the fleet in wartime, so he saw little need to spend naval money on cruiser-carriers. He repeatedly dismissed Hermes-derived studies, whether they used flush decks or islands. The assessment still concedes that his political influence may have made him the best available First Sea Lord, even though he overestimated how much control he could exert over the RAF.
Chapter · 28:20-31:18
Why Beatty rejected the cruiser-carrier idea
David Beatty's confidence in shore-based RAF support led him to dismiss repeated small-carrier studies, despite the Royal Navy's need for politically influential leadership.