Des Moines is initially suggested for the 1940s, but Midway wins once the scenario guarantees completion of the chosen ship. The proposed sequence then moves to Forrestal in the 1950s, Kitty Hawk in the 1960s, and Nimitz in the 1970s. A panel objection points out that obtaining a hull does not guarantee an ability to support it. Clarke responds that operating Forrestal and Kitty Hawk would already require Britain to develop much of the necessary infrastructure. Combined with experience from the nuclear-submarine program, that altered history could make a Nimitz supportable. The argument depends on the cumulative procurement scenario, rather than assuming that historical British facilities could accept every proposed carrier immediately.
Notable Point · 4:44:54-4:47:04
Successive carrier purchases could create the support for Nimitz
The counterfactual moves through Midway, Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, and Nimitz, with support infrastructure as the condition for operating larger carriers.