Why did navies build helicopter cruisers rather than full helicopter carriers?
Short answerASW patrols need fewer simultaneous flight-deck spots, allowing the forward hull to carry other combat systems; assault operations have different deck requirements.
NotesA helicopter cruiser expands its ASW helicopter force while reserving the forward part of the ship for other equipment. Continuous ASW patrols launch and recover aircraft in succession, with about four deck spots offered as a useful arrangement. An amphibious helicopter assault instead needs roughly six to eight spots to launch enough troop lift together. Aircraft waiting overhead burn fuel and lose range, so the assault role benefits from simultaneous launches. The different operating patterns explain why a partial aviation deck can serve ASW well. Broader ambitions subsequently lead the discussion toward Invincible- and Kiev-type ships.