The Ten Year Rule was cancelled in 1932, but the Treasury did not fully relax its practical spending constraint until 1937. British preparations therefore followed an expected war in 1942 or later, rather than knowledge that conflict would begin in September 1939. More escorts and escort-carrier-like vessels were already under consideration, drawing on experience with ships such as Argus and Hermes. The concept predated the war even though selection and conversion of the wartime escort carriers came later, illustrating the difference between an existing requirement and a completed force.
Notable Point · 42:19-43:43
The 1942 readiness horizon and escort carriers
British plans assumed war in 1942 or later, when more escorts and purpose-suited small carriers might have made intended anti-submarine doctrine safer.