Before radar, the Royal Navy expected some enemy attacks to get through and wanted carriers able to absorb damage and hit back. The Illustrious class embodies that battle-oriented fleet-carrier concept through protection and survival under attack. Ark Royal is a strike carrier, defined by its offensive air group. Implacable blends the two approaches, pairing a strike-capable air group with construction intended for fleet combat. The comparison lays out the tradeoff between offensive air strength and protected construction.
Notable Point · 42:46-43:37
Illustrious, Ark Royal, and Implacable carrier concepts
The Royal Navy's pre-radar expectation that carriers would be hit leads into a contrast between the battle-oriented Illustrious class, strike-focused Ark Royal, and Implacable's blended design.