The formal Hermes project began in 1916, but its files point back to prewar studies and semi-private design work. Experimental layouts included twin islands with a flight deck running between them and stern ramps for recovering seaplanes. The islands were intended partly to shelter aircraft work at flight-deck level. Landplanes offered more compact storage than floatplanes, whose floats added weight and occupied space, or aircraft designed as flying boats. Trials ashore and aboard Furious helped develop those choices alongside the designs for Hermes and Eagle.
Chapter · 32:17-40:18
Hermes, Eagle, and the Royal Navy's carrier experiments
Hermes and Eagle emerged from years of experiments with twin islands, recovery ramps, hangar height, and landplane operations from ships.