Chatfield and Henderson press for better carrier fire safety

Admiral Ernle Chatfield and carrier advocate Reginald Henderson agreed that fuel had to return quickly to protected spaces before fire could spread. Chatfield's post-Jutland concern about flammable ships gave Henderson institutional support for improvements tied to Ben-my-Chree's loss. Royal Navy engineers studied captured German seaplane carriers with particular attention to their fuel systems. Successive British installations became faster at filling and draining, though older carriers such as Argus and Eagle retained earlier versions. Survivability also depended on strong fire mains and repair facilities able to recover engines and useful parts after salt-water firefighting. Fuel safety extended past prevention into firefighting and the repair work that followed.