Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:59:42-3:00:03

Could more prewar cruisers help wartime carrier construction?

A larger cruiser force could have supported conversions or reduced the wartime demand for new cruisers, freeing effort for carriers.

Aircraft CarriersCruisersRoyal NavyShipbuilding
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Question

Could a larger interwar cruiser program have helped light-carrier construction during the Second World War?

Short answer

Possibly. Besides conversions, more cruisers already in service could have allowed Britain to concentrate wartime construction on light fleet carriers.

Notes

Additional cruiser hulls raised the possibility of cruiser-based light carriers. A larger prewar cruiser force also offered another advantage for Britain. With more cruisers already in service, wartime yards could concentrate more of their effort on light fleet carriers.