The answer separates carrier design from a wartime supply-system failure. British carriers carried stores for their intended operations, but the Battle of Britain kept Merlin engines and other aircraft spares in Britain instead of allowing them to reach the Mediterranean fleet. The resulting readiness problems do not prove that the ships lacked useful storage capacity. The whole supply chain must be followed before a shortfall is blamed on the receiving warship.
Notable Point · 17:47-18:59
Carrier storage versus a broken spare-parts pipeline
Mediterranean aircraft shortages are traced to Battle of Britain demands on engines and spares rather than simply to inadequate storage aboard armoured carriers.