The United States wanted more carrier protection, while Britain wanted larger air groups, but the treaty ceiling limited how many large decks either navy could build. Designers therefore had to trade individual-ship protection against aircraft capacity and total carrier numbers. Without the restriction, both navies probably would have preferred roughly 27,000-ton armored carriers from the outset. British designs would retain somewhat more protection and American ships somewhat more aircraft, but the resulting fleets would be much closer than their treaty-era carriers suggest.
Notable Point · 33:20-34:55
Treaty tonnage forced carrier armor and air-group compromises
American and British carrier differences reflected choices imposed by a 135,000-ton treaty ceiling rather than wholly different ideals.