Q&A · 2:16:49-2:17:18

What happens to the Courageous hulls if the Admirals become carriers

Courageous-class hulls might be scrapped or converted before treaty limits took effect, with completed conversions strengthening Britain's case for more carrier tonnage.

Question

What would Britain do with the Courageous-class hulls if the Admiral class had already become carriers?

Short answer

It might scrap them or rush conversions before the treaty, using completed ships to argue for a larger carrier allowance.

Notes

If the Admiral-class battlecruisers become carriers, there is no automatic need to preserve every Courageous-class hull. Scrapping is the simplest answer, but an early conversion remains possible if Britain can complete it before treaty rules freeze the category. Having more carriers already built could support an argument for a larger British carrier allowance. Some naval officers would welcome that outcome, although Beatty historically preferred to work with hulls already under construction. Conversion timing therefore affects treaty bargaining as well as each hull's technical merits.