Hull count does not equal operational availability

The treaty settlement left the Navy with two Lexington-class carriers rather than the six-ship battlecruiser scouting force once envisioned. Aircraft expanded the area each carrier could observe, yet two hulls could not match six ships for maintenance rotation and assured deployment. With six, a navy could expect several to be at sea or ready even while others refitted; with two, one mechanical problem could halve the force. The resulting gap also helps explain why American heavy cruisers were designed with scout-cruiser speed and range. The Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers provide a modern example: a propeller problem in one hull and only one fully certified maintenance dock expose how quickly nominal two-carrier strength becomes one-carrier availability. Dockyard capacity, maintenance, and readiness determine how much of a fleet can actually sail.