How early-war carrier decisions weakened the Far East deployment

Churchill's pause in capital-ship and carrier construction delayed the Royal Navy's renewal as wartime losses reduced its available strength. Escort orders and construction were already under way, so the criticism is that he applied a First World War response to a different fleet. Britain now had aging, treaty-limited large ships that needed replacement. Courageous was lost while following doctrine that assigned fleet carriers to anti-submarine operations because smaller carriers were unavailable. Glorious sailed with far less escort than carrier doctrine prescribed, making responsibility extend through the chain of command. Those losses and delayed replacements left Ark Royal heavily worked and unable to obtain a needed refit.