Retaining catapult-and-arresting-gear carriers could have led Britain toward a three-ship force after the Falklands War. Two carriers create a brittle cycle in which refit or defect can remove the national capability. The navy would need roughly three carrier air wings in any case to sustain training and deployment. Matching three hulls to those air groups makes continuous availability easier, so fleet size and readiness cycles matter as much as the capability of an individual ship.
Notable Point · 32:02-32:20
Why three CATOBAR carriers can be easier to sustain than two
A three-carrier force better matches the need for multiple air wings and gives maintenance cycles enough depth to keep a deck available.