Henderson obtained Unicorn as a forward aviation support ship, though her flat deck also made her a capable light carrier. Her workshops, stores, and command facilities addressed a distinctly British problem. A global navy might have to fight in the Pacific while its deepest repair and industrial capacity remained in the Atlantic. That geographic constraint made survivability and mobile support central design requirements.
Chapter · 17:24-20:04
HMS Unicorn and a globally supported carrier fleet
HMS Unicorn embodied the maintenance and command support needed when British carriers operated far from their Atlantic industrial base.