Treaty limits and the path to the supercarrier

The Midway class used British information to refine American ideas, while Britain's later carrier projects reflected its own response to similar requirements. Protection, striking power, and sufficient fleet numbers were difficult to combine within treaty limits. Carriers of about 27,000 tons standard displacement would have left Britain with only five hulls, even though seven had struggled to meet peacetime commitments. Illustrious and Ark Royal were attempts to obtain the necessary capabilities from smaller ships. American designs would likely continue to place relatively greater emphasis on air-group size, while British designs would favour survivability because of their strategic circumstances. Japan faced a further constraint: nearby bases could not compensate for limited industrial capacity and facilities for replacing heavy losses.