Royal Fleet Auxiliary oilers were logical conversion candidates because they were civilian-type ships the Royal Navy owned, built, and understood. Plans from the late 1920s considered turning them into aircraft carriers or auxiliary carriers during a crisis. Wartime demand kept many hulls in the oiler role, while others took on amphibious duties instead. The result shows how a deliberate conversion reserve can disappear when its original ships become indispensable for other work.
Notable Point · 28:52-29:29
Royal Fleet Auxiliary oilers as a planned carrier reserve
British auxiliary-oiler plans show how a documented carrier-conversion reserve could be overtaken by wartime logistics and amphibious requirements.