Queen Elizabeth-class carrier delays and production policy

Did changing catapult decisions cause the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier delays?

The larger delay came from deliberately slowed construction; the catapult debate occurred before it materially constrained the yards and had more effect on Prince of Wales.

The answer separates the catapult debate from the earlier political decision to slow construction. The Aircraft Carrier Alliance was paid to defer work, forcing the yards into an inefficient production tempo when the ships could have been completed more quickly. The electromagnetic-catapult discussion occurred before construction had reached the point where the yards needed an irreversible choice, so the debate itself did not materially delay Queen Elizabeth. It had more effect on Prince of Wales and on the intended operating concept. In this assessment, Britain's more coherent choice was to retain F-35B aircraft and helicopters while putting additional resources into LHDs rather than redesigning the carriers around catapults.