Unicorn carries deep aviation maintenance forward

Henderson also expected a future war to require rapid production of a large carrier fleet, making standardized and supportable designs important. Unicorn could be presented to politicians as an aviation-support vessel even though performing that job required a flight deck and other carrier-like equipment. Her facilities covered the full maintenance range up to major aircraft rebuilds, while a powered lighter could recover machines unable to fly aboard. Two lift sizes, a catapult, arrestor gear, barriers, and extensive workshops let damaged aircraft enter, move through, and leave the repair system. Enhanced communications and command spaces supported the heavy flow of information between Unicorn and the ships whose air groups she served.