Different operating assumptions produced the varied 1920s designs. British planners reserved more maintenance space to keep carriers available during a long commerce war and counter-raider operations. American and Japanese planning increasingly emphasized a large initial strike, which encouraged bigger air groups and partly disassembled replacement aircraft stored overhead. Crews could bring those spares down and assemble them after losses or when other aircraft became unserviceable. The United States appeared best positioned to sustain that replacement flow through industrial production. Carrier capacity therefore reflected assumptions about war duration, maintenance, losses, and national industry as much as deck and hangar design.
Notable Point · 26:56-28:34
Carrier doctrine shapes hangars and air-group size
British plans favored maintenance and endurance for a long commerce war, while American and Japanese plans emphasized a concentrated first strike and rapid aircraft replacement.