The passage recounts why improvised merchant conversions were delayed despite their apparent promise: scepticism about the concept, expected design time, and concern about operating a flight deck above tanker fuel. James Lithgow broke the impasse in 1942 by offering merchant hulls already due for construction and a rough conversion proposal. The familiar back-of-an-envelope story understates the detailed design work needed to turn that proposal into viable ships. The planned total was ultimately reduced from 32 conversions to 19 as more capable escort carriers began arriving.
Chapter · 9:37-11:10
How MAC-ship conversion moved from idea to service
MAC ships illustrate how an urgent convoy requirement still had to pass through design, risk, production, and organizational constraints before becoming operational.