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What's with the differences in design between American aircraft carriers and European carriers during WWII? I was just researching American carriers vs. British carriers and plans for carriers by the Nazis and French, and I noticed that the American carriers have sometimes up to 10,000 tons less of displacement and yet can carry 40 or more planes than their European contemporaries (both built and unbuilt). Why is this? Is this difference in design caused by differences in doctrine, leading to more application of armor instead of aircraft space in European carriers? Does the harsh conditions of the Atlantic cause a forced difference in construction? Are the capacities of the American carriers shown as full transporting capacity rather than average capacity in combat? What is the cause of the fact that European carriers are bigger, and yet they hold less aircraft?
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