Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:28:22-1:29:23

Which pre-1922 carrier design works best in the Second World War?

Hermes and Eagle stand out among the few early carrier options because Hermes has long range and Eagle has a large hangar.

Fleet CarriersHMS EagleHMS HermesNaval AviationWorld War II
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Question

What size and style of pre-1922 aircraft carrier would be most useful in the Second World War?

Short answer

Hermes and Eagle are the strongest candidates: Hermes for range and Eagle for her large hangar.

Notes

The comparison is constrained because only Langley, Hosho, Eagle, and Hermes resemble later aircraft carriers closely enough to qualify. Eagle's hangar capacity and Hermes's cruising range stand out, and both qualities remained useful in the Second World War despite the ships' early designs. The requested trade-offs in armour, speed, displacement, and hangar height remain unresolved.