§ 42. Major ROSSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any recognised definition of the term aircraft carrier; and whether a warship capable of flying off aircraft must always be so described?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe tern "aircraft carrier" is defined in the Washington Treaty (Command 2036/1924) as follows:
An aircraft carrier is defined as a vessel of war with a displacement in excess of 10,000 tons (10,160 metric tons) standard displacement designed for the specific and exclusive purpose of carrying aircraft. It must be so constructed that aircraft can be launched therefrom and landed thereon, and not designed, and constructed for carrying a more powerful armament than that allowed to it under Article IX or Article X as the case maybe.Unless a warship is capable of flying on aircraft she does not come within this definition.