Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 37:24-37:49

Unarmoured decks point toward Atlantic and Indian Ocean work

The sisters lacked armoured flight decks, making Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and aviation-support duties more plausible than a late Pacific front line.

Aircraft CarriersArmoured Flight DecksAtlantic WarHMS UnicornIndian Ocean
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Question

Did Courageous and Glorious have armoured flight decks, and where would that leave them later in the war?

Short answer

No. Their most plausible roles are in the Atlantic, perhaps the Indian Ocean, and in aviation support rather than the late Pacific front line.

Notes

Neither ship had an armoured flight deck. In this counterfactual, that limitation helps define their most plausible later-war employment rather than making them useless. Atlantic service, possible Indian Ocean work, and duties resembling some of HMS Unicorn's support functions remain plausible. Protection, range, and aircraft capacity together shape theatre assignment even after a successful modernization.