Carrier design begins with the operational need, which determines the aircraft mix. A navy must decide whether it wants massed strike, continuous air defense, reconnaissance, anti-submarine coverage, or night operations. Those roles then shape deck arrangements, support facilities, and the carrier's operating cycle. Because a carrier may serve for decades, designers must also leave room for several future aircraft generations that may be far larger and more demanding than the first. HMS Furious illustrates the problem by operating aircraft from 1918 to 1945 across roughly eight developmental generations.
Chapter · 17:06-20:38
Start carrier design with the air mission
Carrier requirements flow from what the navy needs its aircraft to accomplish, from massed strikes to continuous air defense and night operations.