Why the program starts with four, two, and two

The counterfactual begins with four British carriers, two Canadian carriers, and two Australian carriers because fleet readiness and national spending constrain the order. Two ships fit Australia's historical pattern of keeping one operational while the other refits. Canada would probably base both on the Atlantic, where they augment a larger allied effort rather than cover two oceans alone. The scenario asks why governments would buy the ships before deciding their design and employment, so the alliance mission determines what the enlarged Invincible becomes. India lies outside the initial 1970s agreement but could join the production line in the 1980s, perhaps taking a British-built ship before attempting domestic construction.