Hermes's one-inch flight deck also served as the ship's strength deck. She retained a waterline belt and guns, while her lifts and hangar could support about twenty aircraft. These features made her a credible small carrier rather than merely a demonstration hull. Hōshō commissioned earlier because Japan urgently needed its first carrier and already valued aviation as a way to project naval power. Britain could test Hermes at length because other aviation ships were available, so the commissioning dates reflect different fleet needs as well as construction progress.
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Hermes balances structure, hangar space, and experimental service
HMS Hermes combines a strong flight deck, armor, useful hangar dimensions, and modest aircraft capacity while Britain and Japan follow different testing schedules.