The planned system combined hunter groups built around a carrier with convoy escorts of destroyers, sloops, and preferably air cover. The serious gap was the absence of a dedicated escort-carrier program. Britain concentrated scarce carrier construction facilities and specialized aviation systems on fleet carriers. Slowing that production then magnified wartime losses and reduced the air power available to exploit signals intelligence against U-boats.
Notable Point · 24:51-26:39
Hunter groups and the escort-carrier oversight
Royal Navy doctrine paired carriers with destroyers and sloops for hunting groups and convoy cover, but lacked a dedicated escort-carrier program.