Losses and overwork exhausted Britain's available carriers

The carrier shortage compounded once wartime operations consumed the limited fleet. Courageous was used for anti-submarine patrols because Britain lacked smaller and escort carriers, while Glorious's Norway employment departed from normal Royal Navy doctrine and operating standards. Ark Royal then remained so heavily worked that she could not receive the refit needed to address accumulating problems before her loss. Battle damage to Illustrious and Formidable, Indomitable's grounding off Jamaica, and other commitments removed the remaining candidates when Force Z assembled. The shortage reflected limited hull numbers rather than doctrinal blindness: Britain understood the need for carriers but had too few to cover the jobs its prewar doctrine already assigned them.