British work on ships suitable for escort-carrier conversion went back to about 1934, well before the wartime need became acute. Budget limitations prevented those studies from producing the hoped-for conversions. Henderson's death in 1939 then left the programme without the officer who had helped start it. Clarke criticises Churchill's priorities as First Lord and regards Fraser, newly installed as Third Sea Lord, as unprepared for the political demands of the post. The job required securing money from politicians as well as understanding ships, so later success in operational command did not automatically supply the experience it required.
Notable Point · 4:01:17-4:03:13
Why prewar escort-carrier studies did not produce ships sooner
Conversion studies depended on funding and Admiralty leadership able to turn technical options into authorised purchases.