The Royal Navy could assemble a Wilhelmshaven air group from converted merchant ships, mixed carrier types, or three Courageous-type hulls built as carriers. Eight merchant conversions carrying about 20 aircraft each could form two four-ship divisions and launch two waves of roughly 80 aircraft; a smaller 100-aircraft attack might need five ships. Three larger carriers could instead dispatch two waves of 90. Standardizing the aircraft and reducing the number of flight decks would simplify command and control. Sopwith Cuckoos were single-seat aircraft with no observer-navigator, so pilots would coordinate through wing movements and signal flares without radios between aircraft. Destroyers and the Harwich Force would cover the carriers close to the German coast during launch and recovery.
Notable Point · 54:11-58:03
Three carriers simplify a difficult strike package
Three purpose-built carrier hulls would be easier to coordinate than five to eight converted merchant carriers or a mixed force of seaplane and wheeled-aircraft carriers.