Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 9:29-11:30

Ten Malta-class carriers would be a long postwar programme

Even an ambitious ten-ship Malta-class fleet would arrive gradually because postwar carrier construction would slow after the emergency of war.

Aircraft CarriersMalta Class Aircraft CarriersNaval ProcurementRoyal NavyShipbuilding
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Question

When might the Royal Navy complete ten Malta-class carriers?

Short answer

If construction continued after a 1945 end to the war, a slowed programme might put all ten in service around 1960.

Notes

Malta, rather than Audacious, would be the desired destination of a sustained British carrier programme. If ten ships were funded after a 1945 victory, construction would probably continue at a slower peacetime pace. Full completion would then move to roughly 1960 instead of producing an immediate postwar fleet. The answer separates an ideal force goal from the shipyard time needed to realize it.