Why more American carrier power was not a simple Falklands answer

Would a US carrier group, tankers, and AWACS have transformed the Falklands campaign?

They could add capability, but basing and airspace were constrained, and a US carrier presence risked displacing British operational leadership without solving the central practical limits.

The answer emphasises that Ascension was already crowded with aircraft, personnel, fuel, and limited water and support capacity. Tankers or AWACS still need a practical base close enough to provide useful time over the South Atlantic, and Chilean basing would introduce another political dependency. A large US carrier group would also become the perceived centre of the operation regardless of formal command arrangements. Britain therefore preferred to retain operational leadership while accepting less visible American help such as Sidewinders, satellite information, and support at Ascension.