A dual-purpose gun refit for HMS Hermes

Would HMS Hermes have been better without her medium guns and massive mast?

Her original guns were understandable, but twin 4.5-inch dual-purpose mounts would have been a much better refit.

Hermes received medium guns because her designers were still uncertain how an aircraft carrier would defend itself and participate in a fleet action. A wartime refit need not remove every gun once experience clarified the role. Destroyer-scale twin 4.5-inch dual-purpose mounts would retain useful surface fire while replacing a heavy mast and specialized battery with much more relevant anti-aircraft capability. The proposed change follows the carrier's actual wartime needs.