Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:59:29-3:00:52

Carrier armour versus air-group size

British armoured carriers and American larger air groups reflect different operating environments and treaty compromises rather than a simple right answer.

Aircraft CarriersNaval AviationRoyal NavyUS NavyWarship Design
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Question

Should U.S. treaty carriers have adopted British-style armoured decks at the expense of aircraft capacity?

Short answer

Both navies made sensible compromises for different operating environments; the Midway class later demonstrates why each wanted both armour and a large air group.

Notes

Both navies chose what suited their strategic geography under treaty limits. The Royal Navy expected to operate through enclosed waters threatened by land-based aircraft along global routes, so it accepted a smaller air group in return for protection. The United States could concentrate on Pacific operations and prioritize the largest possible air complement. The post-treaty Midway class shows the attraction of combining armour with greater aircraft capacity once the limits eased.