Langley shows how funnels govern carrier islands

USS Langley was shorter, narrower, slower, and lighter than Argus, yet carried about 30 aircraft against Argus's 15. Her collier layout concentrated machinery aft and let simple external funnels preserve hangar volume, while Argus's converted-liner machinery required longer exhaust runs through the ship. Exhaust gases still had to clear flight operations without creating disruptive turbulence. An island could combine funnels with command positions and avoid extensive internal trunking. A 2021 South Korean carrier concept provides a modern comparison with Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and Italian LHDs: twin slim islands can serve separate exhaust paths. A second island also provides some command redundancy. This practical case for carrier islands does not make exposed command stations on the booms of fictional Venator-class spacecraft a sound warship arrangement.