Aircraft carriers cannot be built with markedly lighter yard infrastructure than battleships. Turrets are exceptionally heavy, but carrier elevators, island sections, catapults, and other large assemblies still require powerful cranes. Many of those loads must also be raised higher above the building berth, so lifting height matters alongside weight. Large carrier, cruiser, and battleship construction therefore draws on much the same scarce heavy-yard capacity.
Notable Point · 2:46:48-2:49:14
Why aircraft carriers still need capital-ship cranes
Carrier construction still depends on heavy yards because elevators, islands, catapults, and other large assemblies must be lifted high above the building berth.