Q&A · 3:18-9:54

What would extra Commonwealth carriers change?

Four late-1930s Commonwealth carriers could give the Fleet Air Arm more trained personnel and ships. That depth would support stronger operations at Taranto and in the Indian Ocean while spreading carrier damage-control experience.

Question

If Commonwealth governments funded extra carriers in the late 1930s, how might they affect the war?

Short answer

The main gain would be trained personnel and carrier availability, enabling stronger Mediterranean strikes, Indian Ocean coverage, and more resilient Pacific deployments.

Notes

The Royal Navy understood carrier utility, but treaty tonnage left too few fleet carriers for the jobs assigned to them. Its one-size-fits-all solution even sent fleet carriers on anti-submarine tasks later handled effectively by escort carriers. Four Commonwealth-backed Illustrious-type ships ordered after Japan left the treaty system would expand Fleet Air Arm personnel from 1937 and enter service in pairs. That extra depth probably would not save Glorious or Courageous if their employment and command remained the same. Paired carriers could double the aircraft available at Taranto, while Australian and Indian ships could reinforce the Pacific and join Prince of Wales and Repulse in the Indian Ocean. A larger pool of officers trained in carrier damage control might also avoid the delayed counter-flooding that helped sink Ark Royal.