Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:55:58-2:56:43

An Audacious-sized carrier could operate navalized Beauforts

A carrier-adapted Beaufort designed for catapult launch would fit the Audacious scale, with Malta or Midway offering ample margin.

Aircraft CarriersAudacious Class Aircraft CarriersBristol BeaufortMalta Class Aircraft CarriersTorpedo Bombers
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Question

How large must a carrier be to operate Beaufort-sized torpedo bombers?

Short answer

An Audacious-sized ship could probably do it if the aircraft were designed for catapult use, while Malta or Midway would certainly be large enough.

Notes

A Beaufort-sized torpedo bomber deliberately adapted for carrier operation and accelerator launch would not require the extreme deck run associated with an unmodified land-based machine. An Audacious-class carrier should be sufficient, and an Implacable might be workable. Malta or Midway would provide a more comfortable margin in deck and hangar capacity. Aircraft adaptation and launch method matter as much as wingspan when deciding the required carrier size.