The sinking of Royal Oak exposed the cost of inadequate barriers and defenses at Scapa Flow. An earlier January 1939 proposal would have built fast oilers so a hangar and flight deck could be added quickly. A modest run from British or Canadian yards might have supplied several adaptable hulls by the opening months of the war. They could still support fleet logistics, then serve as escort carriers for convoys and anti-submarine operations instead of sending large fleet carriers on submarine hunts.
Notable Point · 22:10-24:03
Scapa Flow defenses and convertible fleet oilers
Royal Oak's loss highlights neglected base defenses, while convertible fast oilers offer a way to add escort aviation for convoys and submarine hunting.