The Royal Navy was told it would receive two carriers, whatever their individual size, so it sought the largest practicable design. The fixed hull count removed the option of trading two large ships for three smaller ones and encouraged maximizing each approved platform. Engine replacement, hull life, and above all hangar volume limit a carrier's useful future. Hangar capacity governs the size and type of the air group, forcing tradeoffs between fewer large aircraft and more small ones.
Chapter · 30:30-33:00
Carrier size, hangar volume, and future growth
The Queen Elizabeth-class case shows how a fixed number of hulls can push a navy toward larger carriers whose hangar space preserves later options.