Q&A · 3:05:49-3:06:03

Could Ark Royal receive the first angled deck conversion?

Survival in larger wartime task groups could make Ark Royal a cheaper first candidate for an angled-flight-deck modernization.

Question

If HMS Ark Royal survives the war, could she receive the first angled-flight-deck conversion?

Short answer

Yes; she could be a practical and potentially cheaper conversion candidate than HMS Victorious.

Notes

The larger British carrier force and more disciplined task-group operations create a plausible path for Ark Royal to survive the war. Her size and layout could then make her the first candidate for an angled-flight-deck conversion instead of HMS Victorious. A successful conversion might cost less than the extensive historical Victorious reconstruction. Altered wartime losses could therefore change the sequence of postwar naval aviation development.