The carrier was designed around a sustained operational tempo rather than rapidly assembling and launching the largest possible strike package. Treaty-era carrier experience illustrated that flight decks optimised for a continuous drumbeat and those optimised for an alpha strike could perform the other task only with reduced efficiency. CVA-01 therefore settled on two catapults rather than four and two lifts rather than the three first considered. That choice saved weight, space, and money while matching the Royal Navy’s expected style of operations instead of imitating a larger American carrier.
Notable Point · 15:07-17:35
Designing for a continuous flying rhythm
CVA-01 favoured steady aircraft operations over the larger catapult and lift capacity required for an alpha strike.