Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:12:45-1:13:48

A carrier designed for medium bombers before World War II

A public American medium-bomber carrier program would provoke Japanese and British responses and could accelerate prewar carrier construction.

Aircraft CarriersArk RoyalImperial Japanese NavyNaval Arms RaceRoyal Navy
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Question

What if the United States publicly designed a carrier able to operate medium bombers before World War II?

Short answer

It would trigger counterbuilding, including a faster Japanese Shinano and oversized British Ark Royal-style carriers.

Notes

A public American program for a medium-bomber carrier would trigger counterbuilding. Japan might accelerate Shinano and adapt her for larger aircraft. Britain could answer with enlarged Ark Royal-like ships able to operate Mosquito-sized aircraft, possibly with armored flight decks. The result would be a carrier arms race led chiefly by the United States and Britain before the war. More British carriers entering service would alter the opening balance even if the exact designs differed.