Reading carrier design as evidence of doctrine

Research into the Royal Naval Air Service's separation from the Royal Navy provides the starting point for forensic engineering: testing official claims against what ships could actually do. Carrier layout, air-group size, armor, and procurement compromises reveal which capabilities planners valued most. Once treaty limits disappeared, the broadly similar Midway and Malta concepts suggested that British and American ideals had converged. Greater British protection probably reflected infrastructure and global operations, while larger American air groups reflected experience with Lexington and Saratoga. Naval requirements passed through a cumbersome chain involving the Admiralty, Air Ministry, and aircraft manufacturers.