Carrier capacity means sustained missions, not just aircraft count

Furious began as one of the Royal Navy's larger aviation ships and therefore trained heavily for the strike role. As the later conversions Courageous and Glorious entered service with larger air groups, Furious shifted toward a multipurpose fleet-support role comparable to Eagle. British carrier usefulness was measured through the ability to keep reconnaissance, fighters, strike aircraft, and gunfire spotters operating continuously, not merely through the number embarked. That doctrine drew on Jutland and wartime experience with surface raiders and counter-raider operations. It also encouraged multi-carrier formations, because separate decks could specialize while ensuring that aviation support continued when another deck was busy or unavailable.