Illustrious joined the First Aircraft Carrier Squadron under Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian, who flew his flag from Indefatigable. The larger carrier had room for a flag staff and its supporting command facilities, space that a smaller treaty-constrained ship could not spare as easily. Wartime construction and the relaxation of treaty limits had allowed those expanded facilities. The additional space supported the staff needed to command several carriers together.
Notable Point · 1:31:04-1:32:38
Why Vian chose Indefatigable as his flagship
Indefatigable's larger wartime-built hull offered the staff space needed to command the British Pacific Fleet's carrier squadron.