British Introduce MACs Early On

Some of the quotes in this time frame are talking in the 1920's. What I am saying is cheating during this time frame does not make sense.

I agree with you. The references and discussion upthread just show these are not new ideas, and could have had time to percolate more deeply into British planning for the next war.

By the time the Naval treaty is over, why not just build CVE or CVL. The only time the MAC makes sense is once the war starts, and ship are needed in months.

If you start planning for ships you need only right when you need them, it's going to be a very sore gap of time before they're ready.

As for not just build a CVE/CVL, it's simple: Time, capacity, and expense. The British in 1936-7 have no idea when or even if war is certain, merely that their readiness appears poor compared to their potential adversaries. The Germans in the last war did a great deal of damage with u-boats far inferior to what they're building now, and Britain herself is no less dependent on her Empire overseas and on American trade to sustain any prolonged war effort. But, for a relatively small investment compared to the cost of a true CV(L), trade protection can be markedly improved when and if the war arrives. Better, this construction can absorb underutilized (cheap) domestic capacity, preserving and developing strategic industries necessary to support the war later.
 
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