Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:36:23-2:37:11

Would the Far East require more Ark Royal-type carriers?

The Royal Navy still needs a mix of strike and fleet carriers, with treaty tonnage and theater coverage favoring more hulls rather than simply repeating Ark Royal.

Aircraft CarriersHMS Ark RoyalIllustrious Class Aircraft CarriersImplacable Class Aircraft CarriersRoyal Navy
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Question

Would the Royal Navy build more Ark Royal-type carriers for the Far East?

Short answer

Not simply more Ark Royals; it needed a role-balanced carrier fleet and would likely favor Implacable-type ships if tonnage permitted.

Notes

A Sydney-centered strategy would not simply produce more carriers like Ark Royal. Ark Royal's strike-carrier role differed from the fleet roles filled by other designs and their replacements. The Royal Navy needed enough carriers to cover the Far East, Mediterranean, and other operations, and would have preferred the Implacable type more broadly if treaty tonnage allowed. Carrier design therefore balanced role, survivability, total hull numbers, and worldwide commitments.