Ark Royal's decoy role leads into a warning about prestige platforms. Analysts can fixate on the largest or most capable carrier. The modern comparison uses the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford classes to show how that focus might cause an opponent to dismiss a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier as unlikely to deliver the decisive attack. MB8 exploited the same expectation: attention followed Ark Royal, leaving the eastern force less conspicuous. A carrier built with spare deck and hangar capacity can also surge aircraft for an exceptional operation. Relative capability shapes what an opponent expects, while unused capacity creates options.
Notable Point · 32:25-33:52
Prestige carriers can create a deception blind spot
Ark Royal's decoy role leads into a wider warning: analysts who fixate on the largest flight decks may overlook a smaller carrier's ability to deliver the decisive attack.