Light carriers and middle-power independence

A replacement carrier had to support convoy protection, allied task-group leadership and some independent power projection. Earlier light fleet carriers had given Australia and Canada a foreign-policy presence beyond what their defence spending alone suggested. Britain could also signal intent with a carrier, but its nuclear weapons supplied another level of national power. For Australia and Canada, carriers were their strongest naval demonstration of commitment. A useful successor therefore needed enough capability to carry that diplomatic and operational weight.