British and American fighter screens reached similar outer distances, but the British fighter zone extended closer to the ships. One proposed explanation is that Royal Navy doctrine anticipated several carriers operating together, while the American arrangement developed around Lexington and Saratoga operating separately. Maintaining the American spacing around each carrier would have complicated British formation operations. These arrangements originated when coordination depended on visual communication. Radar later allowed different warning, command, and control arrangements.
Notable Point · 2:27:24-2:29:04
Carrier formation doctrine shaped the 40 mm engagement zone
British fighters operated closer to their carriers, possibly because multi-carrier formations needed different spacing from the American arrangement developed around solo carriers.