Which American carrier would Britain borrow for six months in 1940, and how would it use her?
Short answerA Yorktown-class carrier, probably Enterprise by the audience vote, would reinforce Force H and expand British options from Mers-el-Kebir to Taranto.
NotesAmong the American carriers available in 1940, a Yorktown-class ship comes closest to British fleet-carrier requirements and can keep pace with Force H. Its second deck and air group could make Mers-el-Kebir more decisive and give attacks on Italian ports greater weight. It could also release Ark Royal for Taranto-related missions or provide the maintenance cover historically missing at Gibraltar. British aircraft and crews would likely be integrated because American aviators could not acquire Royal Navy night-operating proficiency within a six-month loan.