CVA-01, airborne warning, and the Falklands

How might a surviving CVA-01 force have affected the Falklands War?

Carrier-based Phantoms and airborne early warning could have detected and intercepted Argentine aircraft earlier, reducing pressure on ships and the landing force.

The answer stresses detection and warning rather than claiming a carrier would make conflict effortless. The Black Buck Vulcan raids had psychological value and tied down Argentine resources even though they did not close the runway. A CVA-01 carrying E-2 Hawkeyes and Phantoms could instead have maintained a wider radar picture, cued fighters, and given ships more time to prepare their defences. This might have prevented some attacks, while every post-1966 government also had opportunities to restore part of the missing capability before 1982.