Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 27:01-27:25

A British 28,000-ton carrier before treaty limits

British studies already approached the proposed 30,000-ton carrier, making a roughly 28,000-ton purpose-built design plausible in a non-treaty setting.

Aircraft CarriersCarrier DesignNaval AviationRoyal NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

Would Britain consider a 30,000-ton purpose-built carrier after Argus, Furious, and Eagle without treaty limits?

Short answer

Yes, although the most plausible starting point is one of the roughly 28,000-ton designs Britain had already studied.

Notes

The progression from Argus, Furious, and Eagle did not require an immediate jump to an exact 30,000-ton standard. British studies at about 28,000 tons were the more likely next step. A design could grow during development, but its starting point would reflect work the Admiralty had already undertaken instead of a clean-sheet numerical target. Interwar carrier size would follow an evolutionary design process.