The panel extends the 10-inch cruiser scenario to the relationship between cruiser, battleship, and aircraft-carrier limits. It treats the historical 27,000-ton carrier ceiling as a position between the cruiser and capital-ship categories. With hypothetical cruisers around 15,000 tons, it estimates a carrier ceiling near 32,000 tons. A total allowance around 160,000 tons for each of Britain and the United States could then permit six useful carriers of roughly 25,000 tons. These are estimates within the counterfactual, rather than treaty terms that existed. An enlarged unfinished Alaska hull would also become a more attractive carrier conversion, producing something above an Essex in size without reaching Midway.
Notable Point · 4:21:27-4:23:27
Larger treaty cruisers could alter carrier allowances
A hypothetical 15,000-ton cruiser category leads to estimates of 32,000-ton carriers and a larger total carrier allowance.