Ark Royal operations challenge her published endurance

Ark Royal's cited range is 7,600 nautical miles at 20 knots. Clarke argues that some operations are difficult to reconcile with that figure, particularly once repeated acceleration for flying operations is considered. The Bismarck pursuit provides the example of substantial steaming without an accompanying tanker. He concludes that British fuel and range figures understated capability. The discussion then extends that suspicion to American figures and other navies required by treaty to disclose specifications. The degree of understatement remains an interpretation of the figures and operations, rather than a newly calculated range.