If HMS Eagle had survived 1942, what could she have done later in the war?
Short answerShe could have served as a command carrier for escort-carrier groups and released Unicorn for other support operations.
NotesA surviving Eagle need not have remained a first-line strike carrier to make a wartime contribution. Unicorn's later command and support employment provides the practical model. Eagle could have coordinated escort-carrier groups and supplied a stable flight deck for second-line duties. That assignment would have released the newer Unicorn for Far East aviation support and kept Eagle away from the most demanding frontline tasks.