What could Canada have used to replace HMCS Bonaventure if it retained carrier aviation?
Short answerAn Invincible-class carrier would suit much of the Canadian mission, ideally bought as a pair to preserve availability.
NotesHMCS Bonaventure left Canadian service in 1970, creating a decision point for any alternate carrier policy. The emerging Invincible class offered a plausible successor. Its size and aviation facilities could cover much of the work Canada needed from a small carrier. A two-ship purchase would be preferable because one hull cannot provide dependable availability through maintenance and refit cycles.