The planned strike force included 18 Phantom fighters and 18 Buccaneers, giving 36 fast jets for air defence and attack. Four Gannets provided airborne early warning, while anti-submarine helicopters, a Wessex for search and rescue, and probably a Gannet for carrier-onboard delivery completed an air group of up to about 50. The hangar was projected at roughly 200 by 24 metres, making it longer but narrower than the modern Queen Elizabeth class hangar. Aircraft mix, maintenance clearance, and internal handling space shaped the ship as much as the visible flight deck did.
Notable Point · 23:05-25:30
An air group built around Phantom and Buccaneer
CVA-01’s roughly 50-aircraft air group paired Phantoms and Buccaneers with airborne-warning, anti-submarine, and support aircraft.