How to judge the prewar condition of Britain's old carriers

How worn out were Argus, Hermes, and Eagle before the Second World War?

Argus was already an auxiliary after a long reserve period, while Hermes and Eagle were worn and scheduled for replacement but not simply unusable wrecks.

Argus had been decommissioned and repurposed before wartime demand brought her back, while Hermes and Eagle were aging ships marked for replacement as the Illustrious class arrived. An old warship can be worn down and need major work without being on the verge of mechanical collapse. Constructors' internal reports deserve particular weight because those officials had to plan and answer for the refits their assessments informed. Sailor letters still reveal lived conditions, but a dramatic anecdote should not erase the financial and technical purpose of systematic dockyard surveys. Hood is the wider example of a ship whose condition is often selected to support an author's preferred narrative.