An Air Ministry proposal imagined Royal Navy fleet carriers landing their own air groups, transporting bombers to the Far East, and then returning for their naval aircraft. Studies of the alternative base-to-base air route found heavy costs in wear, reliability, and crew fatigue. Flying the bombers also left their fitters, ammunition, and other support equipment behind. Reinforcing Singapore therefore required maritime transport for a complete operating force as well as enough aircraft range to reach the theater. The Royal Navy answered with Argus-like merchant conversions, reserving fleet carriers for the battle they were expected to fight on arrival.
Notable Point · 47:08-49:18
Why Far East bomber reinforcement required sea transport
Studies of the long air route to the Far East showed that aircraft, crews, fitters, ammunition, and support equipment had to move as one force.