Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:28:57-3:31:25

A County-hull scout carrier for the interwar Royal Navy

A 10,000-ton County-based carrier would resemble a slimmed Hermes with about 24 aircraft and wartime additions such as armor and stronger antiaircraft weapons.

Aircraft CarriersCounty Class CruisersFleet Air ArmHMS HermesNaval Treaties
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What could be added in wartime to a Royal Navy scout carrier built on a County-class hull?

Short answer

Armor and stronger antiaircraft defenses are the clearest additions to a roughly 24-aircraft, 10,000-ton design.

Notes

The proposed ship is essentially a slimmed-down Hermes on a 10,000-ton County-style hull with space for about 24 aircraft. Keeping the design at or below the treaty threshold could allow the Royal Navy to build several during the 1920s without consuming the same allowance as a larger fleet carrier. Armor and heavier antiaircraft weapons could be reserved for wartime installation. The concept sacrifices fleet-carrier scale for repeatable scout-carrier numbers and a class through which later improvements can be tested.