Q&A · 3:52:26-3:53:04

An early redesign could turn Fisher's large light cruisers into useful carriers

Redesigning the large light cruisers before weapons and upper works were installed could produce carriers of roughly seventy-two aircraft instead of awkward later conversions.

Question

What could Fisher's large light cruisers become if redesigned as carriers early in construction?

Short answer

If converted before weapons and upper works were installed, they could become purpose-oriented carriers with space for about seventy-two aircraft.

Notes

The useful moment for conversion is early, after hull machinery is fixed but before armament and upper works lock in the original cruiser arrangement. At that point the ships can be planned around aviation rather than forced into a compromise later. The converted ship could carry roughly seventy-two aircraft under those assumptions. The result would use the large hulls for a coherent carrier mission instead of preserving features that made the historical ships difficult to employ.