Japan did not have enough aircraft to fill every available flight deck. Concentrating the remaining machines in fewer carriers would improve strike efficiency, but other decks would be left behind or sent out empty. Spreading aircraft across more carriers kept more decks at sea at the cost of weaker attack and self-defense groups. Ryūjō's 33-aircraft complement, below the practical estimate of about 36, shows the compromise in one ship.
Notable Point · 40:54-41:23
Japan's choice between stronger strikes and more flight decks
Scarce aircraft forced Japan to choose between concentrating stronger air groups on fewer carriers and sending more flight decks to sea with weakened complements.