The Malta ships were cancelled in October and December 1945 while the Audacious programme continued in reduced form. Africa had moved from the Audacious programme to Malta before being cancelled. Audacious and Irresistible entered service as Eagle in October 1951 and Ark Royal in February 1955, then left service in 1972 and 1979. Malta's roughly 20,000-ton displacement advantage and greater hangar volume offered much more room to absorb future aircraft growth and modernization. The closing counterfactual considers three Maltas entering service instead of two Audacious ships and the reconstruction of Victorious. Their greater utility to Britain and NATO might have altered later decisions about retaining the Royal Navy's large-carrier force, but the outcome remains a question rather than a certainty.
Chapter · 33:08-39:28
Cancellation and Malta's post-war counterfactual
After Malta was cancelled in late 1945, the smaller Audacious carriers continued; the closing argument asks how several larger Maltas might have changed post-war carrier policy.