Early British carrier elevators were slow, but their original cycle times did not define the ships throughout their careers. The Royal Navy renewed the lift mechanisms on nearly all older carriers in 1936 and finished the remainder in 1937. A history that carries a 1920 figure into the Second World War compares wartime operations with obsolete machinery. Refit dates must therefore be checked before using elevator speed to judge aircraft handling.
Notable Point · 52:19-53:10
Why 1920 carrier elevator figures mislead
Most older British carriers received renewed elevator mechanisms in 1936, with the remainder completed in 1937, so original 1920 cycle times misstate their Second World War capability.