carrier construction if armoured carrier lost instead of unarmoured fleet carrier

If the aircraft carrier Illustrious was lost instead of Glorious to German battlecruisers on 8 June 1940 [pod is the Illustrious completed earlier [otl on 24 May 1940] and the Glorious sent to the Mediterranean instead or remains there because of the presence of an extra armoured carrier], what would be the consequences for WW2?
[Answer: Not much until 1941 apart from maybe an old Italian battleship damaged at Taranto otl sunk or damaged beyond economically sustainable repair due to extra aircraft. In 1941, if it survives the dive bomber attack than damaged Illustrious otl, the real impact on WW2 would change depending. If not, history goes pretty much otl.]
But the effects? What would the UK think of having armoured deck carriers? And what would be the impact on aircraft carrier construction?
 
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My guess is the immediate response would be to cancel the Audacious class in favour of an improved Ark Royal design.
 

GarethC

Donor
Sorry to be negative, but any other carrier than Glorious - well, commanded by anyone else, at least - won't be sunk by the Twins.

And d'Oyly-Hughes will get any other carrier he commands sunk in the same way, too. Nothing to do with the construction of the ship.
 
I think 1940 is too late to do anything about any carrier that will enter service in WW2, Implacable and Indefatigable were laid down in 1939. The Ark Royal and Eagle may be redesigned, but as GarethC says d'Oyly-Hughes would get any carrier sunk in the circumstances, he's just that sort of dickhead.
 

GarethC

Donor
On a perfect day, calm sea, clear visibility, he has no air patrols up.

When ships are spotted, he still doesn't launch an air patrol, but sends a destroyer to investigate.

And holds course and speed to allow the contact to close, instead of calling for 30kts and pointing her stern at them until they are identified.
 
Sorry to be negative, but any other carrier than Glorious - well, commanded by anyone else, at least - won't be sunk by the Twins.

And d'Oyly-Hughes will get any other carrier he commands sunk in the same way, too. Nothing to do with the construction of the ship.
Perhaps, the Illustrious completed earlier might get him in command and Lyster stays on HMS Glorious.
If HMS Glorious replaces the Illustrious and, for the sake of this thread, is commanded by Lyster, the consequences won't be much if sunk by the raid that otl heavily damaged Illustrious or damaged. If extra fighters ensure its survival, then, otl would still be most likely. [1 more Italian battleship sunk and HMS Hood probably surviving won't make too much difference until December 1941.] Note that HMS Eagle and HMS Formidable would be free for the Bismarck chase if nothing happens to HMS Glorious until June 1941.
Perhaps, HMS Glorious might get its fate as sunk by u boat or Japanese aircraft. Or, it might be the target of Italian frogmen on 18 December 1941.
If nothing, what happens to the ship would be something like 'Happy and Glorious' or that of otl Illustrious.
If everything goes well, HMS Glorious gets scrapped in 1950 or so.
[I mean, what if HMS Illustrious is sunk instead of HMS Glorious because I want to see the difference a few more fighters could make. Otherwise, no point because it is more or less otl.] Note that only one carrier in the Mediterranean does not affect Crete.
Timeline [most of it the same at the beginning except for the early commissioning and loss of HMS Illustrious]:
Before May 1940: HMS Illustrious commissioned. Because of this, HMS Glorious returns to the Mediterranean [or stays there] along with Lyster while otl Glorious commander takes command of Illustrious.
8 June 1940: HMS Illustrious sunk by German battlecruisers.
Early part of Mediterranean war: More or less otl, except the Italians lose a few more planes and probably one more ship at Taranto.
January 1941 [if it survives air strike]: HMS Glorious stays in Mediterranean Fleet. HMS Eagle might still be sent, but Formidable stays at home.
May 1941: With one more carrier, HMS Formidable replaces Victorious or strikes at the Bismarck. If the Bismarck gets crippled, maybe the Formidable can torpedo the battleship with its aircraft. HMS Glorious won't affect Crete, but it won't be hit by 26 May because of extra fighters [they hit Formidable otl]. [It won't affect Crete because the British won't try and risk their only carrier in the Mediterranean, or more likely, it arrives too late to ensure Freyberg about the seaborne invasion worries.]
June to November: The Glorious stays in the Mediterranean. In November, glooming tensions in the Far East result in the carrier joining Force Z.
December: Similar to Force Z has air cover what ifs. [Maybe the carrier can be sunk in the Mediterranean, but unlikely]. It would likely be sunk by IJN aircraft in 1942 if nothing much changes. If not, it covers Madagascar landings.
August 1942: Glorious manages to stop U 73 or gets sunk instead of Eagle. HMS Eagle and Indomitable survive undamaged.
November 1942: Covers Operation Torch. Provides air cover for operations in 1943 to 1945 or maybe loaned to the US as USS Robin.
 
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I doubt if HMS Glorious would last until 1950. Much like HMS Furious she would be worn out by the end of the war and probably retired by 1947.
 
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