Japan could concentrate carriers for operations while British and American commitments dispersed their available ships. The paper comparison counted ten Japanese carriers including Hosho against six American carriers, with Hornet still working up. Both Western navies had practiced operating several carriers together during the interwar years. Eagle and Illustrious provide a British Mediterranean example, where assigning two carriers represented a substantial commitment relative to the force available. Eagle's need for repairs left the Taranto raid to a single carrier. The interruption of British carrier procurement in 1939 also limited the available force, even though the Navy had experience of operating several carriers together.
Notable Point · 7:52-9:06
Why Japanese carriers could concentrate in 1941
Multicarrier experience existed in all three navies, but procurement, damage, and worldwide commitments constrained the forces available for concentration.