Ryujo's attempt to compress a fleet carrier into an extremely light hull provides the unsuitable model. A cruiser-carrier alternative would carry roughly 24 to 30 aircraft for scouting, local air defence, torpedo attack, and light bombing. One such ship could accompany four to six cruisers or serve a Royal Navy station without consuming space and weight aboard every cruiser. Regular construction alongside County-class groups would spread aviation across the fleet. Once Britain demonstrated the type, the United States, Japan, and possibly France would have strong reasons to follow.
Chapter · 41:53-45:32
Cruiser carriers scout for dispersed naval stations
A practical small carrier would support four to six cruisers with fighters and multipurpose scouts rather than imitate an overloaded fleet carrier.