Early carriers trained the next generation of damage-control officers

The loss of a carrier also removed experienced damage-control officers and ratings needed to train crews for later ships. Courageous and Glorious were places where junior Royal Navy officers learned carrier practice before moving to other large carriers. Furious and Eagle also contributed practical experience, although each conversion had its own characteristics. Lexington and Saratoga performed a similar role for the US Navy, developing manuals and methods through operations and accidents. The newer Ark Royal, Illustrious class, and Yorktown class had too little prewar service to reproduce that accumulated training experience before war began.