Q&A ยท 2:40:27

How many more British carriers could have been ordered in 1935?

The panel argues that Britain could have ordered additional carriers in 1935 without overwhelming its naval-industrial system.

Question

How difficult would it have been for Churchill to obtain more British carriers in 1935 if he knew war was coming?

Short answer

Not very difficult: the panel suggests two Ark Royals immediately and perhaps two carriers a year without straining the system.

Notes

The panel sees two more Ark Royal-sized carriers as an immediately plausible 1935 order. It also describes a continuing rate of roughly two carriers a year as sustainable without straining the system. The short answer treats additional hulls as an industrial and political choice within Britain's existing capacity. It does not develop the wider force structure beyond those hull numbers.