Reducing the carriers' build times toward Illustrious's roughly three-year schedule tests the procurement argument. Illustrious could have commissioned as the Norwegian campaign began, while Victorious and Indomitable move forward to May and November 1940. Even if Courageous, Glorious, and Ark Royal are still lost, the earlier armoured carriers replace much of the missing strength. Months lost in shipyards could therefore become missing flight decks during later operational crises.
Notable Point · 13:22-16:49
What faster armored-carrier construction could change
A construction-time counterfactual moves several armored carriers into service early enough to affect wartime availability.