Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers are a type of warship that, as the name suggests, is designed to carry aircraft. Originally inspired by balloon carrying warships from the 19th and 20th century, warships were being converted to carry fixed wing aircraft in the latter years of the Great War. The first aircraft carrier was created by the Royal Navy of Great Britain, the HMS Ark Royal. However, while it carried a seaplane, the plane would have to be craned back on to the ship. The first aircraft carrier with a full flight deck and recovery capabilities was the HMS Furious, also of the Royal Navy, followed by the HMS Furious. Great Britain attempt to launch aircraft carriers in an effort to project power in their blockade against Holland and Germany. However, these ships were incapable of preventing Britain's defeat in the war and the rise of the German Empire as a global superpower.

Following the war, Great Britain was made to surrender their carriers to Germany, who scuttled them after review. At the onset of the Russo-German War, the Empire of Japan had a desire for rearmament, and thus allied with Germany in exchange for lessened conditions on the Great Treaty. Japan was on the victorious side of the war, and was awarded rearmament conditions that included the construction of aircraft carriers. These conditions stocked fears of the Kingdom of America, who desired to curve Japan's naval capabilities. As a result, the Japanese-American Naval Treaty was negotiated, limiting each side to only two carriers.

The Japanese diplomat responsible for negotiating the treaty was forced to resign, though Japan remained bound by the terms. As a work-around from the conditions, Japan sold their carriers to their client states within the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Officially, these ships were owned and sailed by their respective nations, such as the Korean Empire and Manchukuo, both of which held carriers. However, they were also operated under what was coined to be Japanese direction. As a result, Japan unofficially operated nine aircraft carriers around the Pacific region.

King James of America saw this as a violation of the treaty, and focused on America's naval buildup. America would challenge Japan with seven carriers. Four of these carriers would be stationed in the Pacific while the other three would be stationed in the Atlantic. This buildup caused considerable tensions between Japan and America, becoming a major cause between the two becoming opponents in the World War.

The German Empire also desired aircraft carriers for the Kaiserliche Marine. The first German aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin, was commissioned in 1940, at the brink of Italy's invasion of Albania and the reconquest of Egypt by Great Britain, massively increasing hostilities between the European alliances.

Great Britain also saw Japan granting carriers to their client states, and attempted to do the same. Hoping to strengthen ties with the Kingdom of Brittany against the Comintern Republic, Great Britain sold, on paper at least, a fully operational and manned aircraft carrier, with a second one planned for a bid. However, Germany saw this as a blatant violation the terms for rearmament, and demanded Great Britain cease production. British politicians had not had enough time to debate when Japan attacked an American carrier strike group inbound to German Guam, sparking the Pacific War, and thus the larger World War.