Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 30:29-35:20

How Graf Zeppelin could accelerate British carrier construction

A credible German carrier program could have strengthened the Royal Navy's case against pausing its own carrier construction in 1939-40.

Carrier ConstructionGraf ZeppelinHMS CourageousHMS FormidableHMS GloriousHMS IllustriousHMS ImplacableHMS IndefatigableHMS IndomitableHMS UnicornHMS VictoriousIllustrious Class Aircraft CarriersImplacable Class Aircraft CarriersRoyal NavyRoyal Navy ProcurementShipbuildingThreat PerceptionWarship ConstructionWinston Churchill
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Question

Would Graf Zeppelin have forced Britain to keep more carriers in the Atlantic?

Short answer

Probably, but it could also have prevented pauses in British carrier construction, producing a stronger Royal Navy carrier force sooner.

Notes

Graf Zeppelin's threat cannot be assessed while holding British policy fixed. Evidence of a German carrier nearing service could have protected the Illustrious program from Churchill's construction pause and perhaps advanced Implacable, Indefatigable, and Unicorn. Several ships were already well advanced, so avoiding a pause could plausibly move their service dates forward. Earlier British availability would reduce the German ship's window of opportunity and might also make the Royal Navy more protective of existing carriers such as Glorious.