Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:16:08-2:17:24

Applying fitted-for-but-not-with to British carriers

Treaty-era carriers might reserve structure and weight for armor or other wartime additions, using the initial margin for machinery and a larger air group.

Aircraft CarriersArk RoyalIllustrious Class Aircraft CarriersNaval TreatiesWarship Design
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Question

How could fitted-for-but-not-with have been applied to Ark Royal and the Illustrious class?

Short answer

Design in the structural provision for armor and wartime additions, then use the temporary treaty margin for propulsion, hull size, and aircraft capacity.

Notes

A cruiser-era treaty expedient could also shape a hypothetical carrier design. Ark Royal might have been designed to accept armor later, with that weight initially available for other uses. An Illustrious-class design could similarly make provision for its armored hangar while allowing a larger hull, a fourth engine and shaft, and more speed. Because the ships completed during wartime, the deferred armor could have been installed before completion. The suggested enlarged design carries 48 aircraft instead of 36, although this remains a counterfactual use of the treaty allowance.