Which aircraft-carrier conversion would have made the best ship in its original, unconverted form?
Short answerAkagi was probably the strongest battlecruiser, while Béarn may have offered the greatest practical value to its own navy.
NotesAkagi is the preferred design when the candidates are compared as unconverted battlecruisers. The Lexingtons are judged less suitable for that direct fighting role. Béarn becomes a stronger candidate when usefulness is measured against the needs of each navy. France urgently needed a reasonably modern capital ship, even if it was not the best individual design in the comparison. Completing Béarn in that role could also have allowed the French Navy to retire Danton-class battleships.