A 35,000-ton carrier in 1915 is considered plausible if it must support torpedo bombers and reconnaissance aircraft far from established bases. The ship would take its maintenance facilities with it because a worldwide network of aviation support did not yet exist. HMS Unicorn's later support role provides the comparison for this combined carrier and workshop. In the proposed arrangement, roughly a third of the aviation space would be devoted to maintenance. The larger hull would therefore support fewer aircraft than its size alone might suggest.
Notable Point · 3:37:15-3:38:02
A large 1915 carrier would carry its own workshops
A hypothetical 35,000-ton carrier in 1915 could justify its size through repair facilities, at the expense of space for operational aircraft.