Fleet size determines how much risk commanders can accept. One carrier provides no assured availability because maintenance or damage can remove it. Two are better, but a single casualty can reduce the force to one. Three or more begin to give commanders room to accept wartime risk rather than simply preserve scarce hulls. Carrier aircraft and trained crews have their own long procurement cycles, so an extra hull cannot create full capability quickly.
Notable Point · 27:57-28:57
Carrier numbers determine how much risk a fleet can bear
A two-carrier fleet can quickly become a one-carrier fleet, while greater depth gives commanders real freedom to accept wartime risk.