A hypothetical light-carrier category would give Britain and the United States another 135,000 tons each, with proportional allowances of 81,000 tons for Japan and 60,000 tons each for France and Italy. The American force might include more Wasp-like ships, while a British design could resemble a lighter Unicorn or the later Colossus class. Nine British carriers of 15,000 tons could take over anti-submarine operations, reconnaissance, convoy protection, and fleet supply. They would absorb risks otherwise borne by Courageous and Ark Royal and could support forces such as Harwood's at the River Plate. Fleet carriers could then concentrate more closely on their own operational requirements, although the Royal Navy might still choose six smaller fleet carriers over five larger ones. Permitting limited Japanese small-carrier construction might also have softened resentment over the treaty's restrictions.
Notable Point · 38:49-43:24
A separate light-carrier allowance could reshape fleet roles
A counterfactual light-carrier category shows how treaty architecture could distribute reconnaissance, convoy, anti-submarine, and fleet-support missions differently.