The counterfactual escort carrier begins as a simplified merchant-hull relative of the peacetime scout carrier instead of the smallest emergency deck that can launch aircraft. It would probably be faster and more capable than early historical escort carriers because its mission and useful dimensions were already understood. Such ships could take over some of the work later assigned to British light fleet carriers. The exact wartime building programme remains open, since the stronger escort design could alter which carrier classes are built instead of simply adding more hulls to the historical fleet.
Notable Point · 1:36:15-1:37:07
Larger escort carriers could replace a separate light-fleet tier
Emergency carriers derived from a proven scout-carrier design could be capable enough to reduce or redirect Britain's historical light-fleet-carrier programme.