Furious, Eagle, Hermes, and Hōshō are compared through tons per aircraft rather than displacement alone. Converted hulls carry the inherited compromises of their original design, while purpose-built ships can devote more of their footprint to hangars and aircraft handling. Hermes and Hōshō therefore appear markedly more tonnage-efficient than the larger conversions available to treaty planners. Under a total-tonnage treaty, that efficiency translates directly into more operational aircraft for the same legal allowance.
Notable Point · 26:06-30:41
Why purpose-built carriers used tonnage better
Comparing Furious, Eagle, Hermes, and Hōshō shows why purpose-built carriers could carry more aircraft for the same treaty tonnage.