Cloned Ark Royals release British yards for every other requirement

Why copy Ark Royal instead of a numerous and useful type such as the Tribal-class destroyer?

Because ordinary yards can build destroyers, while copied Ark Royals eliminate a difficult carrier shortage and free those yards for the rest of the fleet.

A follow-up proposes using the fictional copying dock for Tribal-class destroyers instead. That choice offers less benefit because normal yards can already produce destroyers and escorts in quantity. Endless Ark Royals would allow Britain to cancel most later fleet- and light-carrier construction. The released slipways, labor, and material could then be redirected to all the other ship types the copying dock does not supply.