What if USS Ranger or USS Wasp were sunk by the Germans in 1942?

What if one of the Atlantic fleet aircraft carriers Ranger or Wasp were sunk by German U-boats or aircraft in 1942?

What if Wasp was sunk on one of its Malta Runs in April/May 1942? Would Ranger have been sent to the Pacific as a last resort replacement?

Or

What if Ranger is sunk by a U-boat returning from North Africa in November 1942? Would Admiral King send one of the new Essex class carriers as a replacement or Saratoga gets retired to the Atlantic after its refit at the end of 1943.
 
The Atlantic really didn't need a fleet carriers. Wasp and Ranger were there because they were unsuited to the Pacific.

If Ranger is sunk, she is just replaced with CVEs.

If Wasp is sunk, perhaps 4 more Sangamons are converted. They were very useful in the Pacific even if they didn't have the speed. They could carry 30+ a/c of all types, were large enough to carry divebombers, and could still carry oil for the fleet. They were also quite tough ships, all surviving despite kamikaze and torpedo hits.
 
The Atlantic really didn't need a fleet carriers. Wasp and Ranger were there because they were unsuited to the Pacific.

If Ranger is sunk, she is just replaced with CVEs.

If Wasp is sunk, perhaps 4 more Sangamons are converted. They were very useful in the Pacific even if they didn't have the speed. They could carry 30+ a/c of all types, were large enough to carry divebombers, and could still carry oil for the fleet. They were also quite tough ships, all surviving despite kamikaze and torpedo hits.
If either one was sunk, wouldn't the other remain in the Atlantic and take over Ranger's duties? Ranger would take over Wasp's duties. If Ranger was sunk, either Wasp or more likely escort carriers take over her duties until relieved by British and [American] light carriers.
 
If either one was sunk, wouldn't the other remain in the Atlantic and take over Ranger's duties? Ranger would take over Wasp's duties. If Ranger was sunk, either Wasp or more likely escort carriers take over her duties until relieved by British and [American] light carriers.

RANGER only participated in two significant operations - TORCH and LEADER. The rest of her career was spent ferrying USAAF fighters, doing convoy escort, or pilot training. If she gets sunk and any point, the escort carriers pick up the slack. Later in the war, SARA takes over her job as the training carrier.

If WASP is sunk, I don't know if RANGER goes to the Pacific or not. I think she would have but it is possible she does not. She did play an important role at TORCH carrying an unbalanced air group that had a higher than normal % of F4Fs due to lack of land based fighters.
 
So if Ranger is sunk it doesn't affect anything. Escort Carriers take up the slack in the Atlantic.

If Wasp is sunk prior to being sent to the Pacific OTL then will the Enterprise be reinforced by Escort carriers or would the British be willing and able to send one of their carriers to Gaudalcanal? That is if Hornet still gets sunk as in OTL.
 
So if Ranger is sunk it doesn't affect anything. Escort Carriers take up the slack in the Atlantic.

If Wasp is sunk prior to being sent to the Pacific OTL then will the Enterprise be reinforced by Escort carriers or would the British be willing and able to send one of their carriers to Gaudalcanal? That is if Hornet still gets sunk as in OTL.

If WASP is sunk in say May 1942, either a carrier is begged from the British or RANGER goes to the Pacific instead. For a good chunk of the summer of 1942, the Eastern Fleet had three carriers so maybe one of them goes to Hawaii instead of WASP.
 
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