The same 132,000-ton allowance creates different force structures because geography matters. Four 33,000-ton carriers could give Italy a concentrated aviation advantage inside the Mediterranean, where the Regia Marina expected to operate them together. France also had Mediterranean commitments but needed carrier availability in the Atlantic and Far East, making four large decks a poor fit. Six roughly 22,000-ton French carriers offer a way to distribute presence across those theatres. The comparison shows that nominal treaty equality did not produce equal operational choices.
Notable Point · 56:48-58:26
Why Italy could concentrate carriers and France could not
The same treaty allowance could support concentrated Italian air power in the Mediterranean but left France choosing between large ships and enough decks for three regions.