Continuous strikes shaped the Illustrious class

The Illustrious class was organized around repeated operations while fighting through constrained theatres such as the Mediterranean or Singapore approaches. Its air group and deck cycle favored keeping pressure on an opponent while the protected carrier remained close enough to support the fleet. Ark Royal represented the complementary British concept of a larger surprise strike held farther from the immediate battle. American and Japanese carriers could also sustain operations, but their design emphasis leaned more heavily toward the large alpha strike; without treaty limits, the British and American solutions might have converged more closely.