The Royal Navy admired the Essex class without wanting to copy it

What did the Royal Navy think of the Essex-class aircraft carriers?

They considered the Essex class very good for American Pacific needs, but not the carrier design Britain itself required.

British observers could regard the Essex class as excellent for American Pacific operations without considering it the right answer for the Royal Navy. American design emphasized strike capacity, while British design emphasized a continuing flow of sorties, even as both navies learned from one another. Carrier designs should be judged against the operating concept and theater they served.