The US Navy had already considered cruiser-carrier concepts, although persuading Congress to fund them would remain difficult. American and Japanese doctrine both treated finding and striking the enemy first as a decisive advantage. Small carriers can search ahead while the larger fleet carriers remain farther back and less visible. That makes the scouts the focus of risk within the carrier formation. Their role creates a design debate over armour, toughness, and how much protection a reconnaissance carrier needs to survive long enough to report and recover aircraft.
Notable Point · 52:16-54:09
American scout carriers could move risk away from fleet carriers
The US Navy could use small carriers as an exposed reconnaissance screen, keeping its main striking decks farther back and creating pressure to protect the scouts against enemy attack.