How might British carrier design have changed without the cumulative limits of the London Naval Treaty?
Short answerThe Royal Navy could have built a longer Implacable-style carrier programme, with larger hulls and more freedom to develop the fleet-carrier force.
NotesThe Implacable class shows the type of carrier the Royal Navy sought once cumulative treaty limits no longer constrained the design. Without those limits, Britain could have moved toward Implacable-like ships earlier. Larger hulls would permit more capable hangar arrangements, while regular orders could produce a continuing series rather than isolated classes. Treaty rules shaped the number of carriers and the internal compromises of each hull.