Q&A · 2:16:48-2:17:12

Would a modern carrier hull make a good battleship?

A modern American carrier hull could be adapted into a battleship or battlecruiser, but carrier-specific design choices prevent it from being an automatically good fit.

Question

Would the hull of a modern U.S. aircraft carrier make a good battleship or battlecruiser hull?

Short answer

It could be modified into a decent hull, but carrier-specific design choices mean it would not automatically be a good or efficient gunship design.

Notes

An audience member asks whether the hull of a modern U.S. carrier would suit a battleship or battlecruiser. The structure could be modified for the role, so the idea is physically possible. A carrier hull is optimized for different weights, internal arrangements, and operating demands than an armored gunship. Those changes might produce a decent platform without producing an especially efficient one. The distinction is between having enough size and strength to convert a hull and having a hull designed around the intended combat system from the outset.