Is there a kit that can turn a suitable merchant ship into an escort carrier?
Short answerNot a standard kit, but Britain retained conversion concepts derived from Falklands-era container-ship aviation support.
NotesFalklands-era container-ship conversions provide a starting point for improvised aviation support. The example is a forward aviation transport able to launch Sea Harriers and helicopters without the recovery capability of a carrier. The proposal draws on British conversion designs retained and updated since that experience, although no standard kit is identified. Finding a suitable merchant vessel raises a separate question about registration and availability. One participant doubts that suitable British-registered container ships remain, while another identifies a few specialist examples, including vessels under French ownership. Their disagreement distinguishes a ship's registry from the nationality of its owner.