The Royal Navy resisted counting permanent deck parking as carrier storage because the flight deck also had to remain available for operations. It nevertheless accepted temporary deck-alert positions for ready fighters. Crews would board, launch immediately after a warning, and climb towards the approaching strike. This operating concept gave practical meaning to the rapid-climb requirement behind the Type 224 and related interceptor work.
Chapter · 6:24-7:42
Deck-alert fighters and flight-deck space
The Royal Navy distinguished temporary deck-alert positions from permanent deck parking so fast interceptors could launch without consuming operational flight-deck space as routine storage.