Chapter · 48:21-50:29

Fisher's large light cruisers become carriers

A more decisive Dogger Bank victory could give Fisher a reason to build Courageous, Glorious, and Furious as full aircraft carriers.

Notes

A more decisive British victory at Dogger Bank could have sunk two German battlecruisers as well as Blucher. Avoiding the signaling confusion that concentrated British attacks on Blucher would allow continued pursuit of the First Scouting Group. Those additional losses could make the High Seas Fleet more reluctant to leave harbor. With the Cuxhaven precedent already available, Fisher would have a reason to turn the long, fast Courageous, Glorious, and Furious hulls into ships that could attack an enemy at anchor. In this scenario he demands full carriers from the start. Island structures are considered probable, although a flush deck remains possible because Argus has not yet supplied operational experience.