A carrier's aircraft should keep enemy surface ships at distance, but that advantage collapses when the ship lacks airborne reconnaissance or proper escorts. Smaller cruiser-carrier types such as Argus, Eagle, or Hermes were more acceptable for anti-submarine support because their loss did not remove as much fleet striking power. Courageous-sized ships were too valuable to use as lone submarine hunters. The losses demonstrate how readiness, escort doctrine, and the opportunity cost of a hull matter as much as its nominal aircraft capacity.
Notable Point · 2:27:09-2:30:02
Why large fleet carriers were poor submarine hunters
The losses of Courageous and Glorious illustrate the danger of using valuable fleet carriers in exposed roles without adequate readiness and escort.