The 1930 provisions brought sub-10,000-ton carriers into treaty tonnage and constrained their armament, making large programs less attractive. That change removed the Washington-era advantage of building small carriers outside the national allowance. Ryūjō illustrates both why other powers worried and why the concept had limits. Japan tried to obtain substantial aviation utility from a very small displacement, but the resulting ship suffered serious topweight and operating problems.
Chapter · 52:15-54:17
Ryūjō embodied the fear behind the small-carrier rules
Japan's attempt to combine fleet and escort-carrier value in a roughly 10,000-ton hull produced a useful but chronically top-heavy ship.