A larger hangar could increase Illustrious's air group from 36 aircraft to an estimated 48 while retaining armoured protection. Suitable fittings could also allow water-ballast tanks to become fuel tanks, as described for the historical carriers. A proposed four-shaft arrangement would leave three shafts available after one failed, compared with two in the historical shaft-damage example. At a total of 120,000 shaft horsepower, losing one equally powered shaft would leave about 90,000 available. Distributed electric drive is another possible way to preserve power after local damage, although its adoption remains a preference within the scenario. Aircraft capacity also depends on aircraft dimensions: later, larger types could reduce the number carried despite a bigger hangar.
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Larger air groups and resilient carrier propulsion
Turbine weight savings could lift Illustrious toward 48 aircraft and make carrier propulsion less vulnerable to a single shaft casualty.