Why carrier damage control demanded early counterflooding

Counterflooding deliberately admits water, so it conflicted with the understandable instinct to keep every compartment dry. On a high-sided carrier with a low metacentric height, waiting until the danger was certain could allow a list to become unrecoverable. Carrier procedure therefore required crews to counterflood as soon as the need appeared likely, stabilize the ship, and then work through the remaining damage. Officers transferred from battleships or cruisers brought habits formed in ships that flooded only as a last resort. The loss of experienced carrier damage-control officers with Courageous and Glorious made that gap between written procedure and practical experience harder to close.