Q&A · 3:15:32-3:22:45

How larger light carriers reshape later carrier design

Enlarging the Colossus, Majestic, or Independence types would change their missions and feed into the aircraft, lifts, catapults, and landing systems of later carriers.

Question

How would enlarged Colossus, Majestic, and Independence-class carriers affect later carrier designs?

Short answer

They would become different ships for different missions, and their larger aircraft or air groups would push later carriers toward larger lifts, catapults, and landing systems.

Notes

Whether a larger light carrier is more appealing depends on the operator and the task it needs the ship to perform. A major displacement increase no longer leaves the historical design intact: the navy may carry more existing aircraft, adopt larger aircraft, or assign the ship a different role. If France inherits larger wartime carriers, the later Clemenceau class would probably grow as well. Bigger aircraft and air groups then drive changes to lift size, catapults, landing systems, and the structure of flight operations.