Adaptability behind the long lives of the Colossus and Majestic carriers

Why did the Colossus- and Majestic-class carriers remain useful for so long?

Their adaptable designs and generous hull size made later conversions, including Sea Harrier operation, comparatively straightforward.

The classes lasted because they were easy to adapt. A later exchange says that conversion between Colossus- and Majestic-style configurations was comparatively straightforward for ships of this type. The hulls were also larger than their original needs required, which gave later operators room for Sea Harrier adaptations. Spare size and a conversion-friendly design extended useful service far beyond the original wartime programme.