One counterfactual orders Unicorn-type ships in 1937, 1938, and 1939 as the Second London Naval Treaty system weakens. Their support classification, armament, and moderate speed were intended to fit an auxiliary instead of a fleet-carrier definition. With an estimated two-year construction period, the earliest ship might enter service in 1939 and the second during 1940. One could then support Illustrious and Eagle in the Mediterranean after the direct route from Britain was closed, while another might assist North Atlantic patrols. The scenario turns treaty wording and procurement dates into concrete questions about how much aviation support Britain could place in different theaters at the start of the war.
Notable Point · 51:23-54:01
What earlier Unicorn-type ships could have supported
A 1937-39 building sequence tests whether support ships could have strengthened Mediterranean carrier operations and other early-war commitments.