Hermes's first-generation design included features that a successor could discard. Her heavy tripod and high fire-control position served weapons that the proposed small carrier would no longer need. Removing that topweight would also permit changes to the ship's balance and the removal of weight elsewhere that had counterbalanced it. The flight deck measured about 570 feet against the ship's 600-foot overall length because the bow and rounded stern limited its usable extent. The round-downs were intended to help airflow and landing behavior, but later experience suggested they were not worth the effort. Her 2.9-foot metacentric height is credited with good heavy-weather handling. Her large exposed side area nevertheless meant that a low-speed crosswind could require 25 to 30 degrees of weather helm to hold course.
Notable Point · 21:23-24:17
Hermes's first-generation features reveal where a successor could improve
Removing high fire-control weight and revising the flight-deck ends could improve a Hermes successor, while her handling shows the practical effects of carrier windage.