Why carrier mission sets drive carrier size

Should the US Navy prefer a few large carriers or many smaller, less capable carriers?

For the broad mission set the US Navy expects, large carriers remain the more efficient answer; small carriers become attractive only with tightly limited roles.

Carrier size follows the missions and aircraft the navy expects the ship to support. Engines and aviation equipment impose substantial costs even on a smaller carrier; a larger hull does not automatically need a proportionately more expensive propulsion plant because hull proportions also matter. Catapults, arresting gear, aircraft lifts, and the required air group further shape the design. A limited sea-control mission needs less than a carrier intended to approach a threat and launch substantial strike packages. The assessment therefore favours large carriers for the existing American mission set, while leaving room for smaller ships assigned narrower duties.