Phillips would still need a flagship when theater duties required him to go to sea. His fleet commander therefore needs a separate ship so that neither officer has to displace the other's staff. Using a British carrier creates another problem: staff accommodation had repeatedly been removed from designs after Eagle because of weight and other demands. The Implacables were intended to provide the larger ships in which that accommodation could finally be included. This design history helps explain the proposed additional surface flagship.
Notable Point · 31:03-32:24
Why British carriers need a separate fleet flagship
Separate command staffs and limited carrier accommodation strengthen the case for another surface flagship.