Unicorn was especially useful to carriers whose limited hangar space constrained aircraft maintenance. The Implacable class had two hangars and more room to perform that work aboard the carrier itself. Even the enlarged arrangements in Indomitable reduced some of the dependence associated with the earlier Illustrious design. On this assessment, two Unicorn-type ships could support the four carriers discussed without requiring a third. The number of maintenance ships needed therefore depended on the facilities inside the carriers they supported.
Notable Point · 1:00:18-1:02:18
Why larger carrier hangars reduced the need for Unicorn
Implacable-class carriers had more space to maintain their own aircraft, reducing the demand for separate Unicorn-type maintenance ships.